The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has firmly refuted claims circulating about the introduction of new N5,000 and N10,000 banknotes. In a statement released via Instagram, the bank clarified that the report was false and did not originate from its official channels.

The CBN emphasized, “The content is not from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Kindly note that the official website of the CBN is cbn.gov.ng.” This response comes after a report claiming to quote Deputy CBN Governor Ibrahim Tahir Jr. suggested the new denominations would be launched to streamline cash handling and improve transaction efficiency starting May 1, 2025.

The viral message, which spread widely on WhatsApp, included assertions about the introduction of these notes featuring notable Nigerian leaders. However, the CBN has stated that there is no deputy governor by that name and is currently investigating the source of the misinformation.

The bank reiterated its commitment to providing accurate information and urged the public to rely only on official announcements from the CBN to avoid falling victim to misleading reports.