CBN to Nigerians: Handle Naira with dignity

KANO — The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has urged Nigerians, particularly traders, to handle the naira with care, pride and dignity to prolong the lifespan of banknotes and reduce the cost of replacing soiled and mutilated currency.

The Director, Currency Operations and Branch Management, Dr Adedeji Adetona, gave the advice on Monday during a roadshow and public awareness campaign on proper handling of the naira at Galadima Market, Kano.

Adetona, represented by the Deputy Director, Currency Operations Department, Mr Ibrahim Yahya, said the sensitisation was aimed at taking the message of proper currency handling directly to people who frequently engage in cash transactions.

He described the naira as a symbol of Nigeria’s sovereignty and national pride, urging members of the public to treat it with care.

“The key message is about proper handling of the Naira. The Naira is the symbol of our sovereignty. It is our national pride, and we need to handle the Naira very carefully and effectively,” he said.

Adetona said the CBN and the Federal Government spent substantial resources replacing banknotes that become dirty, soiled, damaged or mutilated.

He said proper handling would extend the lifespan of the currency and reduce the resources required for replacement.

“We believe that by handling the Naira carefully, we are extending the lifespan of that Naira and, by extension, saving a lot of money in terms of replacement of the Naira,” he said.

He said the awareness campaign began at Galadima Market and would be extended to other markets across Kano State.

According to him, markets were chosen because they are major centres of cash transactions, with traders frequently receiving and handling banknotes from customers.

“Kano is a centre of commerce that records substantial cash transactions, making traders important stakeholders in efforts to promote proper handling of the currency,” he said.

Adetona said traders often accumulated cash from daily transactions before depositing the proceeds in banks, making them an important starting point for efforts to promote proper handling of banknotes.

He assured the public that the CBN would continue to engage relevant stakeholders and intensify awareness on the need to preserve the naira.

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Earlier, the Chairman of Galadima Market Traders Association, Shu’aibu Suleiman, pledged the cooperation of the market leadership in sensitising traders, particularly small-scale sellers, on proper handling of banknotes.

Suleiman welcomed the campaign, saying the market’s large number of small traders, including fish sellers, would benefit from the initiative.

He called for continuous public awareness to encourage responsible handling of the naira.

NAN reports that the CBN team also visited Sabon Gari Market, Abattoir, Yankaba Market, Tarauni Market, ‘Yan Lemo and Dawanau International Grains Market as part of the sensitisation campaign.

NAN