The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged Nigerians, particularly traders, to handle the naira with care, pride and dignity in order to prolong the lifespan of banknotes and cut the cost of replacing soiled and mutilated currency.

The Director of Currency Operations and Branch Management, Dr Adedeji Adetona, gave the advice on Monday at a roadshow and public awareness campaign on proper handling of the naira at Galadima Market in Kano.

Represented by the Deputy Director of Currency Operations, Ibrahim Yahya, he said the campaign was designed to take the message directly to people who handle cash most often.

He described the naira as a symbol of Nigeria's sovereignty and national pride.

"The key message is about proper handling of the Naira. The Naira is the symbol of our sovereignty. It is our national pride, and we need to handle the Naira very carefully and effectively," he said.

Adetona noted that the CBN and the Federal Government spend substantial resources replacing banknotes that become dirty, damaged or mutilated.

"We believe that by handling the 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," he said.

He explained that markets were chosen because they are major centres of cash transactions, with traders constantly receiving banknotes from customers and often accumulating cash before depositing it in banks.

"Kano is a centre of commerce that records substantial cash transactions, making traders important stakeholders in efforts to promote proper handling of the currency," he said.

The campaign began at Galadima Market and will be extended to other markets across Kano State. Adetona assured the public that the CBN would keep engaging relevant stakeholders and intensify awareness on preserving the naira.

The Chairman of the Galadima Market Traders Association, Shu'aibu Suleiman, welcomed the initiative and pledged the market leadership's cooperation in sensitising traders, especially small-scale sellers such as fish sellers, on proper handling of banknotes.

He also called for continuous public awareness to encourage responsible handling of the naira.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CBN team also visited Sabon Gari Market, Abattoir, Yankaba Market, Tarauni Market, 'Yan Lemo and Dawanau International Grains Market as part of the campaign.

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