Nigerians lash Adamu Garba over comment CBN should retain two official languages of English, Arabic on redesigned Naira notes

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele on Wednesday, October 26, announced plans to redesign the N200, N500 and N1000 notes.

According to him, the new designs and issues will take effect from December 2022.

Reacting to this, former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adamu Garba, called on the CBN to retain the "two official languages of English and Arabic" on the redesigned naira notes.

Taking to his Twitter page to show his support for the redesigning of the naira notes, adding that it is long overdue.

“Redesigning the Naira is long overdue. One of the giant strides of CBN Gov. Godwin Emefiele. However, wide-ranging consultation & rapid awareness needs to be created. For trust’s sake, the two official languages of English & Arabic need to remain, in addition to the local ones,” he tweeted.

However, some Nigerians have taken to his comment section to express their displeasure, with some insisting that Arabic is not an official language of the country.

See their reactions below...

Redesigning the Naira is long overdue. One of the giant strides of CBN Gov. Godwin Emefiele. However, wide-ranging consultation & rapid awareness needs to be created.

For trust's sake, the two official languages of English & Arabic need to remain, in addition to the local ones.

— Adamu Garba II (@adamugarba) October 27, 2022

Did they tell you that it's about languages? Or are you looking for another round of controversy as usual? There's no Arabic language on our notes, but Arabic letters. It's ajami. Arabic is not an official language in Nigeria.

— Yakubu Musa (@Alhazanism) October 27, 2022

“For trust's sake, the two official languages of English & Arabic need to remain, in addition to the local ones.”

Pls is Arabic an official language?

— Chima Henry (@exquisite247) October 27, 2022

CBN should remove Arabic language and English then replace it with Igbo Hausa and Yoruba language simple eran oko ni gbogbo Yi adamu was ma adamu lol ni ti e

— Eche ibah (@igedefirstson) October 27, 2022

In a simple way, it is Arabic alphabet use to write hausa words, back then most of the people from the north have no western education they can't read the Roman alphabets but they can read Arabic perfectly so they introduce housa words written with Arabic alphabets

— Degeneral (@sada5252) October 27, 2022

Why do we need Arabic in the Naira notes? What trust does it give to the people out there. When politicians like you steal a larger amounts daily using govt as a means to create divide. Is Arabic our official language?

— Collins Obioha (@CollinsObioha8) October 27, 2022

U dat know,tell us.
If no arab nation has any of our dialect on their money,it will be an error 4 us to have arabic language or letter on our note. We have many languages in Nigeria dat can be used instead

— TSAR (@imperialtsar) October 27, 2022