A country’s currency is part of her image. The United States’ currency, the dollar, remains the pride of that country.
Ditto for the British and their pounds sterling. Other nations like Germany, France, Switzerland, China, South Africa, Japan, Russia, among others, guide their currencies jealously.
A remarkable thing about the currencies of these countries, is their usual clean, crisp quality.
This is aside the fact that
the many of the said currencies show high quality in terms of their minting.
The seeming prevalence of dirty naira notes in circulation, is becoming worrisome to many Nigerians. The dirty naira notes appear to be more with the old naira notes.
Sadly, the new currency notes introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, at the twilight of the immediate past Muhammadu Buhari administration, do not seem to have much of the quality of durability for which legal tenders are known.
The implication is that the new currency notes like the old ones, tend to become weak and dirty within a short period in circulation.
We are persuaded that the country’s apex bank, the CBN, should take steps to address this problem by ensuring that only clean, crisp currency notes are released into circulation. While the dirty notes should be promptly withdrawn from circulation at all times.
It beholds the citizens on their own part, to demonstrate patriotism by handling the country’s currency notes with care. Market women for instance, should avoid folding naira notes with their wrappers. Some traders make a habit of stocking the notes under their mats, thus predisposing them to tear and dirt.
The CBN and commercial banks can embark on enlightenment campaign with a view to educating citizens on the imperative of proper handling of the naira.
There should be improvement in the quality of naira notes being minted as this helps the currency in terms of durability.
