As the December festive season approaches and demand for physical cash is set to rise, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has appealed to Nigerians to handle the naira with care and avoid practices that damage the national currency.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during the official launch of a nationwide sensitisation campaign on proper naira handling, tagged “Naira Our Pride: Handle with Care.”
Bala M. Bello, CBN Deputy Governor (Operations), stressed that the naira is not just a medium of exchange but a symbol of national pride and sovereignty. He warned against behaviours such as spraying, tearing, folding, writing on, and rejecting banknotes, describing them as habits that undermine the value of the currency and increase the cost of replacement.
“With the festive season approaching, hoarding and abuse of cash can destabilise circulation. Cash hoarding harms us all; it denies others access and puts pressure on the system,” Bello cautioned, while also urging wider adoption of digital payment alternatives.
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The apex bank noted that the clean notes policy has been in place for years, but the new campaign seeks to drive behaviour change through deeper stakeholder involvement. Bello called on banks, market leaders, transport unions, schools, religious groups, and the media to take ownership of the message and promote discipline in currency usage.
Reassuring Nigerians, Sikiru Adedeji Adetona, CBN Director of Currency Operations, said the bank has made adequate provisions to ensure sufficient cash supply throughout the festive period.
