The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a stern warning to the public, businesses, financial institutions and other economic agents against rejecting the standard ₦100 Naira banknote.
The apex bank reaffirms the legality of both standard note and the commemorative centenary version adding that, refusing them violates the CBN Act.
Punch reports that the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, the CBN clarified that both the standard ₦100 note and the commemorative ₦100 note are valid for all transactions nationwide in a stateme nt issued on July 8, 2026.
Sidi-Ali further explained that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the commemorative ₦100 banknote in 2014 to celebrate Nigeria’s centenary, marking 100 years since the 1914 amalgamation. The note was released to circulate alongside the standard ₦100 banknote, not as a replacement, and both remain legal tender nationwide.
The CBN said reports of some individuals and businesses refusing to accept the standard ₦100 note are based on misinformation about its legal status. Therefore warned that rejecting the note violates the provisions of the CBN Act, undermines public confidence in the national currency, and could attract enforcement measures against offenders.
However, The apex bank urged Nigerians to accept all duly issued ₦100 banknotes for transactions and advised the public to rely only on official CBN communications for information regarding the status of the country’s currency.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
