Nigeria’s Central Bank redesigns naira notes
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it will start circulating newly redesigned N200, N500, and N1000 naira notes from December 15, 2022.
Governor Godwin Emefiele disclosed this on Wednesday afternoon during a special briefing. He said the naira notes were redesigned following approval by the Federal Government.
Mr Emefiele also noted that in line with the transition from old notes to new ones, bank charges for cash deposits have been suspended with immediate effect.
He also explained that the new and existing naira notes shall remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31, 2023, when the existing currencies shall seize to be legal tender.
What CBN is saying about new notes
Emefiele said, “Currency management is a key function of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as enshrined in Section 2 (b) of the CBN Act 2007. Indeed, the integrity of a local legal tender, the efficiency of its supply, as well as its efficacy in the conduct of monetary policy are some of the hallmarks of a great Central Bank.
“In recent times, however, currency management has faced several daunting challenges that have continued to grow in scale and sophistication with attendant and unintended consequences for the integrity of both the CBN and the country.
“In recent years, the CBN has recorded significantly higher rates of counterfeiting especially at the higher denominations of N500 and N1,000 banknotes. Although global best practice is for central banks to redesign, produce and circulate new local legal tender every 5–8 years, the Naira has not been redesigned in the last 20 years.”
It was based on these trends, problems, and facts, and in line with sections 19, subsections a and b of the CBN Act 2007, that the management of the CBN sought and obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign, produce, and circulate new series of banknotes at N100, N200, N500, and N1,000 levels.
“In line with this approval, we have finalized arrangements for the new currency to begin circulation on December 15, 2022. The new and existing currencies shall remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31, 2023, when the existing currencies shall seize to be legal tender.”
What you should know
All Deposit Money Banks currently holding the existing denominations of the currency are expected to begin returning these notes to the CBN effective immediately, as the newly designed currency will be released to the banks on the order of First-come-First-serve basis.
Customers of banks are also expected to begin paying into their bank accounts the existing currency to enable them to withdraw the new banknotes.
