The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has cancelled the December 2023 deadline for the legal status of the old Naira banknotes.
The apex bank said the old notes will henceforth remain legal “ad infinitum.”
CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isa AbdulMumin, said this in a statement in Abuja.
The CBN had las year October introduced redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations and set deadlines for legal tender status of the old design of the denominations to cease to exist.
But last March, the Supreme Court extended the validity of the old N200, N500, and N1,000 till December 31, 2023.
Abdulmumin said without prejudice, the CBN wishes to inform the general public of its desire to extend the legal status deadline of the old design of N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations ad infinitum.
“This is in line with international best practices and to forestall a repeat of earlier experiences.
“Thus, all banknotes issued by the CBN, in accordance with Section 20 (5) of the CBN Act, will continue to remain legal tender, even beyond the Dec. 31 deadline,” he said.
The director assured that the CBN was working with relevant authorities to vacate certain subsisting judicial pronouncements on the subject.
He said that all CBN branches across the country would continue to issue and accept all old and redesigned denominations of Nigerian banknotes to and from Deposit Money Banks.
He enjoined the general public to accept all banknotes (old or redesigned) for day-to-day transactions.
He also urged Nigerians to handle the banknotes with utmost care to protect and safeguard their life cycle.
“Also, the general public is encouraged to embrace alternative modes of payment, e-channels, for their day-to-day transactions,” he said.