Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been asked to keep the Arabic inscription on the new naira notes.
Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced the redesign of the N100, N200, N500, and N1000 notes.
Emefiele stated that the redesigned naira notes will be available on December 5, 2022.
Following this announcement, some Nigerians petitioned the apex bank to remove the Arabic inscription from the new naira notes, emphasizing that Arabic is not the country’s official language.
However, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has stated that the Arabic inscription, also known as Ajami, should be retained on all naira denominations, arguing that its removal would offend Muslims and cause division within the country.
In the midst of these debates, former CBN Governor Mahammadu Sanusi stated that the apex bank would not remove the Arabic inscription from the new naira notes.
In a statement, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, stated that the Arabic inscription should be kept in the spirit of brotherhood.
According to AYCF National President Yerima Shettima, most Northerners cannot read English, so Ajami should be retained in the new naira denominations.
Those calling for the abolition of Ajami were labeled as religious bigots by Shettima.
“Most of our people in the North understand Arabic, so it’s not a bad idea for us to move together and in the spirit of brotherhood to allow the inscription,” he said.
“The majority of those advocating for the removal of the inscription are ethnic bigots who fabricate a story where none is required.”
“This inscription has been there for a long time and in no way implies an Islamization agenda; it’s just a figure, and I’m not sure why this issue has come up now.”
“I don’t think it’s part of the government’s policy, but biased people think that way.” The inscription should be kept in the spirit of oneness and brotherhood.
“I have no problem because I can read, write, and understand any figure on the naira, but most people in the North have difficulty understanding the other side of the naira.” Our forefathers initiated this to carry people along and make them feel like they belong to society in the North, where they only understand Islamic knowledge.
“From the beginning, it was not initiated by a Muslim government, but by a Nigerian government.”
Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja-based public affairs commentator, questioned the correlation between Nigeria and Arab that would warrant Arabic language on the country’s legal tender.
He stated that it would have been preferable if the Nigerian language had been inscribed on the naira rather than Arabic.
Adeyanju also stated that the naira’s Arabic inscription was not an issue.
“I don’t think the debate over the Arabic inscription on the naira notes is all that important because English is also a language,” he said.
“However, instead of Arabic, it would have been preferable if it was a Nigerian language on the naira, because what is the connection between Nigeria and Arab?” Is Nigeria an Arab country?
“I don’t understand the connection between our legal tender and Arabic inscription, but it shouldn’t be a big deal that people start to associate it with religion because, after all, it’s just a language.”
“I believe the CBN should consider having our local language on our legal tender,” Adeyanju told reporters
