The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, insisted yesterday that only the old N200 notes were re-issued as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The clarification came against the backdrop of reports that President Muhamnmadu Buhari had issued an order directing the CBN to also re-issue the N500 and N1,000 notes.
The apex bank also refuted reports that it directed Deposit Money Banks, DMBs, to receive the old N500 and N1,000 notes from their customers.
The clarifications came as Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, said President Muhammadu Buhari made a mistake concerning the naira redesign policy which phased out the old N500 and N1,000 notes.
In a statement jointly signed by the Deputy Governor, Mr Edward Adamu, and Mr Osita Nwanisobi, the apex bank said it is sticking to the directive of the President to reissue only the old N200 notes.
It read: “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to a fake press release purported to have emanated from. the bank to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-issuance and release of old N500 and N1,000 notes as legal tender in the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN reiterates that in line with the directive of Mr President, only N200 old notes are to be re-issued and to re-circulate concurrently with the new notes.
“Members of the public are, therefore, advised to ignore this fake news.
“The bank is working with the law enforcement agencies to investigate, apprehend and prosecute the purveyors of this fake news.”
