ABUJA, NIGERIA – Protestors took to the streets in Nigeria Thursday revolting against the country’s new CBDC and shortage of banknotes just days before the country’s election.

Long lines appeared at ATMs and banks have limited the amount of cash people can withdraw due to a scarcity of new banknotes. The uproar has mainly broken out in Ibadan, Benin City, and Delta State where businesses are refusing to accept old denominations of the Naira, Nigeria’s currency. 

Journalist and author Nick Corbishley tweeted, “Since October 2021, 99.5% of Nigerians have refused to use the [CBDC], preferring to continue using cash.”

In December 2022, Nigeria’s central bank limited cash withdrawals to just $45 per day in an effort to steer people toward using the eNaira, the country’s CBDC. Nigeria’s unpopular president, Muhammadu Buhari, will face re-election on Feb. 25.