Emir Sanusi has maintained that the Arabic inscription will not be removed by the CBN from the redesign Naira notes.
The former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has insisted that the Arabic inscription, also known as “Ajami” will not be removed from the redesigned Naira notes.
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Newsonline reports that Sanusi said CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, told him that the Arabic sign will be part of the redesigned naira note.
The former CBN governor told Islamic scholars on Monday that rumours of removing the Arabic sign were mere speculation.
The Arabic inscription on the naira notes is called Ajami, an Arabic-derived African writing system.
“I heard various scholars commenting, with some implying that the Ajami on the naira notes would be removed,” Sanusi said. “I want to use this medium to authoritatively confirm to the Muslim ummah that there are no such plans.
“Since the issue came up, we have spoken to some people in the Central Bank, and they confirmed to me that such a plan is non-existent.”
This Online news platform recalls that the CBN last week announced plans to redesign the 200, 500, and 1,000 naira notes with effect from Thursday, December 15, 2022.
Emefiele added that the redesigning of Naira notes would help to curb counterfeit notes, as well as hamper ramson payment to terrorists and kidnappers.
After the CBN’s announcement, the Arabic inscription became a subject of debate among some Nigerians – with some calling for the removal while others want it retained.
Sanusi, who served as CBN governor between 2009 and 2014, urged the Islamic leaders to verify and seek clarification on issues they are not clear about.
He disclosed that he had a conversation with CBN governor Emefiele to get clarity on matters surrounding the redesigning of the naira notes.
“When the misconception became widespread, I spoke to the CBN governor himself, and he also confirmed to me that there is no plan whatsoever to remove the Ajami. So, I want to appeal to Islamic scholars to please stop acting on unsubstantiated reports.”
Islamic Group supports Naira redesign, asks CBN to put Arabic on all denominations
An Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has supported the move by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to redesign the naira, Daily Post reports.
However, the Islamic group gave the condition that Arabic Ajami must be inscribed on all naira denominations.
In a statement on Tuesday the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said, “The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, announced on October 26 2022, the plan by the CBN to redesign the naira.
“MURIC hereby expresses its support for the project with the proviso that all the denominations must contain Arabic inscriptions just as they had been before Arabic Ajami was conspiratorially and unjustly removed from some denominations.”
MURIC insisted that the removal of Arabic Ajami from naira notes in the past provoked Muslims and caused division within the country, adding that only its return to all denominations can heal the wound.
According to the Islamic group, in 2005, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo fired the first salvo against the naira note during his eight-year rule as a civilian president (1999–2007). Obasanjo removed the Arabic Ajami from 5, 10, 20 and 50 naira denominations.
It added that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan also took the cue from Obasanjo by removing Arabic Ajami from the 100 naira note when he discharged the commemorative centenary banknote on December 19, 2014.
