The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged traders and residents in Kano State to handle naira notes properly, warning that careless handling increases the cost of replacing dirty and damaged currency.
The apex bank made the call during a sensitisation campaign launched at major markets across the state to educate traders and the public on the importance of treating the naira with care.
Speaking at Galadima Market, a representative of the CBN Currency and Operations Department, Ibrahim Yahya, said the naira represents Nigeria’s sovereignty and national pride and should be treated with respect.
He explained that the CBN and the Federal Government spend significant amounts of money replacing notes that become dirty, worn out or damaged because of poor handling.
“By handling 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,” Yahya said.
He said markets were selected as the starting point because of their important role in cash transactions, particularly in Kano, which he described as a major commercial centre.
According to him, traders handle large amounts of cash from customers before depositing some of the money in banks, making them key partners in efforts to preserve the quality of the currency.
“We believe that when we talk to the traders themselves, that is the starting point. They accumulate cash and maybe the part that they have used in their transactions and the remaining, they might likely take the remaining to the bank,” he said.
Yahya said the campaign would continue beyond Galadima Market, adding that the CBN would take the sensitisation exercise to other major markets in the state.
The markets listed for the campaign include Sabon Gari Market, Abattoir, Yankaba Market, Tarauni Market, Yan Lemo and Dawanau International Grains Market.
The CBN representative urged traders and other users of the naira to handle the currency with “pride” and “dignity”, noting that proper handling would help prolong the life of the notes and reduce the need for frequent replacement.
He added that the campaign was also designed to engage members of the public directly and remind them of their responsibility to protect the quality of Nigeria’s currency.
