It’s difficult to fake new naira notes, says Buhari – Newstrends
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It’s difficult to fake new naira notes, says Buhari

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The new naira notes have been fortified with security features that will make them difficult for currency counterfeiters to fake, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday.

Unveiling the new N1000, N500 and N200 bills shortly before the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President gave reasons for his approval.

He said besides the fact that the exercise was overdue, there was the need to take control of the currency in circulation.

He said features of the new notes would make them tough for fraudsters to counterfeit.

The President, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, expressed delight that the redesigned notes were produced locally by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) Plc.

“The new Naira banknotes have been fortified with security features that make them difficult to counterfeit,” the President said.

He added that the new notes would help the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) design and implement better monetary policy objectives.

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The President, who commended the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and his deputies for the initiative, also lauded the NSPM Plc management “for working tirelessly with the apex bank to make the currency redesign a reality, and for printing the new naira notes within a comparatively short time.”

Acknowledging that international best practice requires central banks and national authorities to issue new or redesigned currency notes between five and eight years, Buhari noted that it is now almost 20 years since the last major redesign of the local currency was done.

He said: “This implies that the Naira is long overdue to wear a new look. A cycle of note redesign is generally aimed at achieving specific objectives, including, but not limited to: improving security of notes, mitigating counterfeiting, preserving the collective national heritage, controlling currency in circulation, and reducing the overall cost of currency management.

“As is known, our local laws – specifically the CBN Act of 2007 – grants the apex the power to issue and redesign the naira.

“In line with this power, the Central Bank Governor approached me earlier in this year to seek my permission to embark on a currency redesign project. I considered all the facts and reasons presented before me by the central bank.

“There was an urgent need to take control of currency in circulation and to address the hoarding of Naira banknotes outside the banking system, the shortage of clean and fit banknotes in circulation, and the increase in counterfeiting of high-denomination naira notes. It is on this basis that I gave my approval for the redesign of the N200, N500 and N1000 notes.

“While this may not be apparent to many Nigerians, only 4 out of the 54 African countries print their currencies in their countries, and Nigeria is one. Hence, a majority of African countries print their currencies abroad and import them the way we import other goods.

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“That is why it is with immense pride that I announce to you that these redesigned currencies are locally produced right here in NSPM) Plc,’’ he said.

Emefiele thanked the President for his unwavering support for the redesign and distribution of the new notes, which, he said, will control inflation, make policies more effective, ensure financial inclusion and fight corruption.

He also noted that by international best practice, the redesign of notes should be every five to eight years, and the currency in circulation had been in usage for 19 years, with spiraling challenges on the economy, especially on security and counterfeiting.

Appreciating the President for his insistence that the initial notes must be designed and produced locally, Emefiele said it was a renewal of confidence in the NSPM Plc.

He said: “Mr. President, only a President of your esteemed and incorruptible stature could have done what we are witnessing today.”

The CBN boss listed the benefits of the redesigned naira notes to include enhanced security, greater durability, attractiveness and promotion of rich cultural heritage.

Benefits of the new bills

• Control of inflation
• Bringing hoarded cash back into banking system
• Strengthen monetary policy
• Increased financial inclusion
• Encouraging cashless economy
• Promoting anti-corruption fight

Business

Release Nigerian traders’ data to EFCC, court orders Binance

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Release Nigerian traders data to EFCC, court orders Binance

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Binance Holdings Limited, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, to furnish the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the comprehensive data of all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the interim order after ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho.

This was granted to enable the anti-graft agency to unravel the alleged money laundering and terrorism financing on Binance.

The ex-parte motion was brought pursuant to Sections 6(b), (h), (I), 7(1), (a)(2), and 38 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended) and the inherent powers of the court.

An operative of the EFCC, Hamma Bello, in an affidavit he deposed to, said the matter was of utmost urgent public interest.

He said the data provided would enable the commission to accomplish its investigation activities.

He said it was in the interest of justice to grant the application as refusal of the request would largely hamper the commission’s investigation.

He stated, “That the team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the naira losing its values against other currencies.

“That the damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform and they were requested to delist the Naira and avail the ONSA on the activities of the Nigerians on their platform,”

He said the information availed to the team by Binance shows that the total trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6 billion.

Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange that lists more than 350 cryptocurrencies globally.

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UK firm to build PH-Enugu-Abuja standard rail line – FG

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UK firm to build PH-Enugu-Abuja standard rail line – FG

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Messrs MPH Rail Development Limited, a United Kingdom company for the construction of the Port Harcourt–Enugu–Calabar–Abuja Standard Gauge Rail Line.

The project when completed will be operated under a public-private partnership framework.

These details are contained in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and published on its website.

Under the MoU, the UK firm will manage the design, construction, commissioning, operation and eventually transfer to the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

The ministry stated that the MoU signing followed the approval of the Outline Business Case and the issuance of a compliance certificate by the Infrastructure, Concession, and Regulatory Commission.

This clearance allows Messrs MPH Rail Development (UK) Limited to focus on assembling the necessary documents for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval to proceed with the project.

Some of the essential documents for advancing this initiative are listed as a comprehensive feasibility study report, a full Business Case Study, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, the production of a Resettlement Action Plan, and the design of a Financial Model to implement the project.

This would ensure transfer of the line to the Federal Government under a PPP arrangement without incurring loans or debts for the Nigerian government or its agencies.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Alkali pledged the ministry’s support for the successful implementation of the project.

He emphasized the importance of diligent preparation and submission of all requisite documents to expedite FEC’s approval.

The statement read in part, “As part of the initiative to consolidate the ongoing railway modernisation projects consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Presidential Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, has executed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transportation with Messrs MPH Rail Development (UK) Limited to enable the company to carry out the design, construction, commissioning, operation and transfer of the Port Harcourt–Enugu–Calabar–Abuja Standard Gauge Rail Line on Public – Private Partnership basis.”

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No approvals from FEC for borrowing through eurobond, says DMO

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No approvals from FEC for borrowing through eurobond, says DMO

The Debt Management Office (DMO) says it has not secured approval of the Federal Executive Council for the appointment of advisers and eurobond issuance.

The Federal Government could raise as much as $1 billion in external borrowing in 2024 through this method to meet its spending needs.

On March 13, there were reports Nigeria had hired investment banks to seek advice on its first eurobond issue since 2022.

But the DMO in a statement on Friday said it had not appointed transaction advisers.

“The appointment of Transaction Advisers by the DMO is done in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and is subject to the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” DMO said.

“Also, the Issuance of Eurobonds by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the International Capital Market is subject to the approval of the FEC and receipt of the Resolution of the National Assembly (NASS) in accordance with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibilities Act, 2007 and Debt Management Office (Establishment, Etc.) Act, 2003.

“Currently, the DMO has not received the requisite approvals from the FEC and Resolution of the NASS for any Eurobond Issuance.”

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