Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to retain the Arabic inscription in the proposed naira notes.
MURIC made this in a statement issued by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Tuesday.
The statement partly reads, “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.”
Akintola recalled that the removal of Arabic Ajami from naira notes in the past sparked outcry by Muslims and caused division within the country.
He added adding that only its return to all denominations can heal the wound.
“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.”
He added that former 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.
