The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has restated its commitment to ensuring the availability of clean currency notes in circulation, while urging Nigerians to treat the Naira as a vital symbol of national identity.
Speaking at the CBN Special Day during the ongoing 20th Abuja International Trade Fair, Mrs. Hakama Ali, Acting Director of the Bank’s Corporate Communications Department, stressed that protecting the integrity of the Naira requires collective responsibility.
“Respect it and keep it clean. Do not spray, hawk, mutilate, or counterfeit the Naira,” Ali said. “We encourage you to be ambassadors of the Bank’s clean Naira notes. CBN cannot do it alone. Our Naira, Our Pride.”
Ali said the CBN remained committed to addressing challenges in the economy to strengthen productivity and shield Nigeria from external shocks.
Economic Stability and Banking Sector Resilience
The acting director highlighted that economic sustainability rests on three pillars: strong financial systems, a stable foreign exchange market, and effective collaboration between monetary and fiscal authorities.
She disclosed that Nigeria’s external reserves rose to $43.05 billion on Sept. 11, 2025, up from $40.51 billion at the end of July, reflecting the impact of ongoing reforms.
Ali also confirmed progress in the bank recapitalisation exercise, with 14 banks already meeting requirements, while others are under close monitoring to ensure compliance.
“Our efforts are designed to ensure that the banking system remains robust and resilient,” she added, noting that most financial soundness indicators remain within prudential benchmarks.
Boosting Investor Confidence and Innovation
Ali said the theme of the fair, “Sustainable: Consumption, Incentives and Taxation,” aligns with the CBN’s goal of strengthening investor confidence, which has recently spurred an increase in foreign inflows.
She also reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to innovation, pointing to the Payment Systems Vision 2028, an initiative to future-proof Nigeria’s payments landscape.
The programme, she explained, seeks to expand financial inclusion in rural areas, improve transaction security, and ensure faster, more reliable payments across the country.
Business Community Response
In his remarks, Mr. Agaidu Jideani, Director-General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), described the CBN as more than just a regulator, calling it a “vital enabler of growth.”
“Through access to credit facilities, intervention funds, forex management, and financial inclusion strategies, the CBN has opened opportunities for MSMEs to thrive,” Jideani said. “Its role in stabilising inflation and ensuring confidence in the financial system remains essential to business sustainability and competitiveness.”
The 20th Abuja International Trade Fair, which opened on September 25, continues until October 6, bringing together policymakers, businesses, and investors to discuss sustainable economic growth.
