Nigeria Delays Old Banknote Exchange as Election Looms

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday ordered the old low-denomination naira notes to be "released back into circulation," delaying the exchange deadline by 60 days, to help ease the cash shortage that has sparked protests and riots around the country. Buhari also defended his currency swap policy saying it "contributed immensely to the minimization of the influence of money in politics." Nigerians head to the polls on February 25 to elect a successor to Buhari.