Reps Order Immediate Withdrawal Of Dirty Naira Notes From Circulation

The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to commence immediate withdrawal of mutilated naira notes from all banks, and replace them with new notes, especially the N100 notes. The House also mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency to investigate the illegal racketeering of mint Naira notes on the streets while it is perpetually unavailable in banks. ‎


Member representing Ijebu-North/Ijebu-East/Ogun Waterside of Ogun State, Hon. Adekoya Adesegun Abdel-Majid in a motion titled: ‘Need to Investigate the Sales of Mint Naira Notes and Sources of Black-Marketing of the Naira,’ noted that the Naira is greatly losing its value in the international market, and facing a serious war within the country as it is being handled with no respect by citizens.

 According to him, the Naira now appears in inglorious forms and with odours that can be dangerous to human health. Adekoya explained that Naira notes in circulation are badly torn, terribly squeezed, soiled, cello taped, dirty and mutilated, especially the 100 Naira note which carries the face of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo.

The lawmaker observed that except for 1000 and 500 naira notes, other notes are rarely paid to people in banks but are available in black market. He however expressed worry that bacteria naturally breed and live in dirty environments and objects, hence dirty naira notes could pose serious health risks to Nigerians. “They have been found to contain pathogenic parasites and bacteria, and are therefore sources of infection as well as potential carriers of communicable diseases, diseases such as nosocomial infections, Human Influenza Virus, Hepatitis A virus and others have been found on some of these dirty notes,” he stated. The House however mandated its committees on Legislative Compliance, and Banking and Currency to ensure strict complianc