CBN: All banknotes we issue remain legal tender; Reassures of sufficient cash stock nationwide
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again reassured Nigerians that there is sufficient cash stocks in all locations across the country for all normal economic activities, while stressing that all bank notes issued by it remain legal tender.
The apex bank, which stated these in a statement by Isa AbdulMumin, PhD, its Director, Corporate Communications, pointed out that reports of scarcity of cash across some major cities of the country and anxiety among some members of the public over the legality or otherwise of old Naira banknotes should all be discountenanced.
While warning that no one should refuse to accept any CBN-issued Naira banknotes as means of payment, the statement cautioned against panic withdrawals and advised members of the public to continue to embrace alternative modes of payment to reduce the pressure on the use of physical cash.
Full text of the statement reads:
Our attention has again been drawn to reports of a scarcity of cash across some major cities in the country despite assurances of sufficient cash stocks in all locations across the country. There have also been reports of anxiety among some members of the public over the legality or otherwise of old Naira banknotes.
For the avoidance of doubt, while reiterating that there are sufficient banknotes across the country for all normal economic activity, we wish to state unambiguously that every banknote issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) remains legal tender and should not be rejected by anyone, as stipulated in Section 20(5) of the CBN Act, 2007.
Accordingly, branches of the CBN across the country have been directed to continue to issue different denominations of old and redesigned banknotes in adequate quantities to deposit money banks (DMBs) for onward circulation to bank customers.
We wish to restate that all denominations of banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) remain legal tender.
In line with Section 20(5) of the CBN Act, 2007, no one should refuse to accept the Naira as a means of payment. Consequently, members of the public are advised to accept all CBN-issued banknotes currently in circulation and guard against panic withdrawals. We reaffirm that there is sufficient stock of currency notes to facilitate normal economic activities. Furthermore, to reduce the pressure on the use of physical cash, members of the public are again advised to continue to embrace alternative modes of payment.
Isa AbdulMumin PhD
Director, Corporate Communications
November 8, 2023
