CBN Reacts to Viral Claim of ₦5,000 Note With Tinubu’s Image
- The Central Bank of Nigeria dismissed as fake news the claim that it unveiled a new N5000 note, which carried the image of President Bola Tinubu
- According to the apex bank, there was no new N5000 note being considered, as claimed on social media, and Nigerians were therefore advised to be guided
- However, the clarification by the apex bank in the country generated mixed reactions from Nigerians, as many condemned the spreading of the fake news
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that the circulating image of the new N5,000 bank note is fake news. Some social media users maintained that the apex bank released the first sample of the new note, featuring the image of President Bola Tinubu
Some Nigerians on social media have reacted with a flurry of responses to the claim. However, the CBN debunked the claim in a tweet on Thursday, April 9.
Source: Twitter
The CBN's X post reads:
“This content is fake. Let the public be guided.”
Reports indicated that the viral image contained 90% AI-generated content after being analysed using the Hive Moderation tool.
Nigerians react as CBN denies new note
However, the CBN's dismissal of the claim as fake news drew reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:
Dacosta explained why the government cannot arrest the distributor of fake news:
"You guys are handicapped! You have all the instrumentalism of government to arrest and prosecute fake news purveyors, but can’t use it. They will burn down this country for you with fake news. And it would be too late to remedy."
Umukoro alleged that the supporters of the opposition were sharing the fake news:
"This is the handiwork of OBIDIENTD aka ADC aka IPOBY aka Obidiots! They're mischief makers, hell-bent on heating the polity, since they know they can never win any elections in this country."
Source: Twitter
Kayode Abraham called for the scrapping of the N200, N500, and N1000 notes:
"Let it be fake news and let it perish in the minds and masterminds of the never-do-well propagandists. If anything and if the President means well for our economy, the N200, N500 & N1k notes should be scrapped. Not aiming N5k notes to be stolen, siphoned & stashed away as done with others."
Oluwatosein maintained that the fake news has caused unnecessary panic and appreciated the CBN for the clarification:
"Thank you @cenbank for the quick clarification. This fake ₦5000 note with Tinubu’s face don cause plenty unnecessary panic. Abeg make we all verify before we forward anything. No be every design wey dey fly na real one. Let’s protect our naira from fake news too."
Qing Travis said Nigerians will reject the new note if it is true, while criticising the federal government:
"Unfortunately, we are beginning to believe. The federal government and its parastatals are fond of denying allegations, only for the allegations to be true at the day’s end. However, Nigerians will not support this dumb currency."
Read more reactions to CBN's post on X here:
Diri declares a public holiday for Tinubu
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu was scheduled to visit Bayelsa state on Friday, April 10, to commission some legacy projects in the south-south state.
In view of this, Governor Douye Diri announced the day as a public holiday and the shutdown of markets in the state.
However, the government's public holiday and the closing of markets for the president's visit were criticised by some Nigerians.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
