President Muhammadu Buhari approves redesign, production, and circulation of new series of N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele says the issuance of new Naira banknotes, 20 years after last redesign exercise, will commence December 15, 2022. CBN says new and existing currencies shall remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31, 2023 when the existing currencies shall cease to be legal tender. CBN frowns at high rates of counterfeiting of N500 and N1,000 banknotes. CBN says Bank seeks to mop up about N3.32 trillion outside the banks’ vaults to take control of money supply in Nigeria. “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,” – Emefiele CBN faults hoarding of banknotes by members of the public; says over 80 percent of currency in circulation are outside the vaults of commercial banks. CBN directs all Deposit Money Banks currently holding the existing denominations of the currency to begin returning these notes to the CBN immedi...