CBN urges Kano traders naira users to handle banknotes with care, saying proper handling can reduce replacement costs and preserve currency quality

Ibrahim Yahya, a representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Currency and Operations Department, on Monday, September 28, 2026, urged traders and residents in Kano State to handle naira notes with greater care as the apex bank began a sensitisation campaign across major markets in the state.

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The campaign opened at Galadima Market, where CBN officials spoke to traders about the importance of protecting banknotes from unnecessary damage, staining and excessive wear.

Yahya said the condition of notes in circulation had financial implications for the country because damaged currency must eventually be withdrawn and replaced.

“By handling 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,” Yahya said.

He described the naira as a symbol of Nigeria’s sovereignty and national identity, urging members of the public to treat the currency with “pride” and “dignity”.

The CBN representative said markets were chosen as the starting point because of the volume of cash transactions taking place there, particularly in Kano, one of Nigeria’s major commercial centres.

Traders routinely receive large quantities of cash from customers before depositing part of their takings with banks, making them important participants in efforts to maintain the quality of notes in circulation.

“We believe that when we talk to the traders themselves, that is the starting point,” Yahya said.

He explained that traders accumulate cash through daily transactions before returning some of it to the banking system, making proper handling at the point of circulation particularly important.

The CBN’s message comes against the backdrop of the substantial operational cost involved in maintaining clean and usable currency in circulation. Notes that become excessively dirty, worn or damaged have shorter usable lifespans and must be replaced.

The sensitisation exercise is expected to continue at other major markets across Kano State.

The CBN listed Sabon Gari Market, Abattoir, Yankaba Market, Tarauni Market, Yan Lemo and Dawanau International Grains Market among the locations scheduled for the campaign.

The exercise is also intended to reach ordinary consumers, who frequently handle banknotes before they return to traders, banks and other parts of the financial system.

The apex bank is encouraging Nigerians to avoid practices that unnecessarily damage notes and to handle cash responsibly during everyday transactions.

For traders, the campaign highlights the practical link between everyday cash handling and the wider cost of maintaining Nigeria’s currency system.

The CBN said the sensitisation would continue beyond Galadima Market as officials take the message to more communities and commercial centres across the state.

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The broader appeal is simple but significant: treating the naira carefully can help preserve the quality of notes in circulation, extend their useful life and reduce the frequency with which damaged currency needs to be replaced.