CBN commences public education to identify counterfeited notes

WorldStage Newsonline-- The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has commenced the education of the Nigerian public on the incorporated security features of the Naira, warning against the act of counterfeiting.

The Governor of the apex bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, gave the charge in Abuja Wednesday while declaring open the maiden temporary exhibitions of the Currency Museum on “Counterfeit Money: Who Pays?” and “Non-Interest Banking in Nigeria” held at the Bank’s auditorium.

Emefiele, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor in charge of the Operations Directorate, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, noted that educating the public would enable them identify counterfeited notes should they encounter such. According to him, the CBN remains committed to safeguarding the value of the Naira by ensuring that banknotes are not susceptible to counterfeiting.

Earlier, the Director, Currency Operations Department of the Bank, Mr. Olufemi Fabamwo, observed that technological advancement posed a serious threat for national currencies to be counterfeited.

He, however, stressed that the CBN was alive to its role of protecting the country’s legal tender from counterfeiting by putting in place appropriate policies relating to preventing and minimizing currency counterfeiting as well as providing the public with basis for easy identification of fake notes.

Reflecting further on the second subject of the exhibitions, Fabamwo noted that the concept of non-interest banking was largely still being misunderstood in Nigeria.

While disclosing that the activities of non-interest banks are duly regulated by the CBN, he urged stakeholders to embrace the products offered by non-interest banking based on their universal acceptability and benefits to customers.