The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that it has introduced a new N5,000 currency note featuring President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement shared via its official X account, the apex bank clarified that the viral image is fake, warning the public to disregard it.
The false claim had sparked widespread reactions online after an image of the alleged note began trending, suggesting it was an official design released by the CBN.
To verify the authenticity of the image, checks using an AI detection tool reportedly showed that it was over 90% AI-generated, indicating it was created using artificial intelligence software rather than issued by the bank.
The CBN reiterated that it has not released any new denomination and urged Nigerians to rely only on official communication channels for accurate financial information.
It also referenced earlier discussions around the proposed N5,000 note in 2012, which were later abandoned, noting that no such plan is currently being implemented.
The bank emphasized its statutory authority under the CBN Act 2007 to issue currency but stressed that any such action would be formally communicated to the public.