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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has expressed serious opposition to a suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking to remove the Arabic inscriptions on naira notes.
While telling the Federal High Court that it would cost a huge amount of money to discard the existing notes and print new ones without it; the apex bank said the Arabic inscription is not a symbol or mark of Islam, but an inscription to help non-English speakers or uneducated populace who are literate in it to ease trade.
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It can be recalled that a Lagos-based lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, who filed the suit before Justice Mohammed Liman, contended that having Arabic inscriptions on the naira notes portrays Nigeria as an Islamic state, contrary to the country’s constitutional status of a secular state.
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Omirhobo, who said he does not know what the Arabic inscriptions mean, is seeking the court to order the CBN to replace the Arabic inscriptions with either English language, which is the country’s official language, or any of Nigeria’s three main indigenous languages – Hausa, Yoruba, or Igbo.
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The lawyer said that with the Arabic inscriptions on the naira note, the CBN violates sections 10 and 55 of the Nigerian Constitution, which makes the country a secular state and wants the court to restrain the CBN from further approving, printing, and issuing naira notes with Arabic inscriptions, bearing in mind that Nigeria is a secular state.
In the counter-affidavit by the CBN, deposed to by one Abiola Lawal, the CBN maintained that contrary to Omirhobo’s claim “the Ajami inscriptions on some of the country’s currencies do not connote any religious statements or Arabian alignment.”
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The CBN also tackled the lawyer on the claim that the Arabic inscriptions were a threat to Nigeria’s secular status.
The apex bank said, “The inscriptions on the country’s currencies do not and at no time have they threatened the secular statehood of the nation nor have they violated the Constitution of Nigeria, as every design and inscription was finalized with the approval of the relevant government bodies.’’
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The CBN explained that the “Ajami inscriptions” on the naira notes dated back to the colonial era and they do not imply that Arabic is an official language of Nigeria.
“The Ajami was inscribed on the country’s currency by the colonialists to aid those without Western education in certain parts of the country, who, back then, constituted a larger part of the populace. The Ajami is not a symbol or mark of Islam but an inscription to aid the populace uneducated in Western education in ease of trade.”
Bastards,that’s the only thing you know. Religious intolerance. Tmr you shall shamefully say a jewish symbol should replace it. The Courts are adviced very strongly to disregard that nonsense request and throw it out into the garbage can that it rightly belongs.
“The colonial administration brought about the Arabic inscription on the Naira note”- Then I believe change has occurred from the time of independence till date. Nigeria is diverse in cultures,languages and religion. Therefore, it will be best if that Arabic inscription is removed from the notes. The three major tribes can be inscribed on the Naira notes. Or English which is the official Nigerian language or no inscription at all. This is the TRUTH and for the peace of our beloved country. Remember, this country does not belong to a certain tribe,but all tribes. Let peace, love,tolerance and understanding be amongst our people.
First of all Arabic is not a genera language in Nigeria, all our notes have Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa translation of the currency value on each note so that rubbish arab language or inscription should be removed. Very baseless argument to keep the inscription on it. Systematically forcing Islam on us.
Very very true.arabic denigrate African language and culture
No to islamazation of Africa.
Yes.to Africanization.
Africans must put sll colonial impositions in garbage .arabic is tied to arab religion while english is neutral for business its the less evil of both arabic and english.
That was before Mr.CBN but now things have changed. If that is the case let them put all the major languages of the world like french, German language etc to ease trade. Religion is sensitive let CBN stop uplifting other languages better than others. Why not use the local languages? Assuming the colonial government used Jewish language in the naira note to ease trade with Israel will the north accept it? Knowing fully that they hated the Jews. Anything religion in government businesses should be removed and allow everybody to practice his or her religion freely and personal. Hajj fairs and Christian pilgrimage fairs should be stopped.
I support the lawyer’s move. The Arabic inscription should be removed from the subsequent notes that will be printed.
Fuck u .you are talking about Africa Egypt I think belong to your father
Ignorance is really a disease, if all of you and the daft lawyer have done your home work well, you wouldn’t have waisted your time and energy, cos all that you need is to understand what the inscription means first, besides the Bible is written in English, Muslims must go to court to ask for the removal of English inscriptions.
Absolutely right
Lol..the point you gave that the Bible is written in English is regarded as useless. The Quaran is also written in Arabic, no one should have a problem with that.
Your point is baseless
Why are you displaying your stupidity? Is the Bible or koran compulsory for all? Your comparison peaks you as a religious bigot.
So there are no English Quran? Mumu
You’re a fool, you want to cause a religious war
Sorry Bible is not written in English it was Hebrew and Greek..what you see in English is interpretation
No. Lack of knowledge is a bigger diseases. Somebody from the South who doesn’t understand arabis inscription on the Naira Note should go to the North to meet the one who understands Arabic to explain what that curse is, right? The Holy Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek and other languages but translated to English for everyone’s understanding. Why then do you want somebody to keep explaining the nonsense that makes no sense in the Naira Note? If Yoruba, Igbo and Hausas languages are written on the Notes, will heaven fall?
Don’t say they’re ignorant of the think that is not right.state you own understanding
You are the one showing crass ignorance. Arabic is not the language of any ethnic group in Nigeria. We dont even understand its meaning. I dont think any inscription should be on the notes, in the First place. However, of na inscription dey hungry us, E better mmake we kukuma write am in Pigin English wey everybody dey talk nah! Happy ending be dat ?.
Wait sule Manu or gambari. Who colonize us… Arabian or United kingdom, are you outdated Mr. Man… Why are you going backwards instead of forward. Use your imagination either it is remove or use local language. You always like to be slave of other country in the name of civilization, in fact let them remove any foreign languages on notes and use our local language. Hope that sort out the issue any other objection. Thunder go fire such person. Shkena
What concerns Bible with our currency
You are sick in nature! Bible is also written in Arabic language for your information you daft.can’t you for once differentiate spade with shovel?
If you were not the ignorant one, you would at least be able to spell “wasted” Even the analogy you used too doesn’t make sense. Why is there Arabic inscriptions on the naira note? And why are you so offended that the rest of the country besides Muslims don’t want that on our currency? Making an analogy of the English written on the Bible, the Bible is Christian literature, is the naira note only for Muslims? Why are you staking such huge claims on it and feeling threatened? The naira note belongs to all Nigerians and not just Muslims so I don’t think it is such a such an outlandish request to ask that Arabic inscriptions should be expunged from it.
No one is forcing Islam on you, it is a language that’s understood by the north, and what the Arabic inscription read on the ₦100 note is “naira dari” which translates to “hundred naira”.
Same hundred naira note and other currencies translated into the three major languages in Nigeria. Igbo Hausa and Yoruba. That Arabic inscription is not necessary. It should be taken off our currencies
Your translation is commendable but since Arabic isn’t part of our language, it should be written in Hausa language instead.
Maintain your words
Do you mean anything in Arabic is representing Islam? Check the forward of Gideon bible, the Arabic writing there is a vesrse from the Qur’an? Or for what reason do the editors consider the arab dialect? If you still have problem with the Arabic inscription, try and read carefully the newsletter again or do more research on what brought about the inscription in our currency. Your claim to force Islam on you lacks the necessary merit and even it is undoubtedly racial.
Fuck u
If as you said Nigeria belong to all of us,then there’s still a large number of people in the northern Nigeria who understands only the Arabic inscription. Note that the ajami is not Arabic, but hausa
Why are you guys so hell bent on explaining to those who doesn’t want to understand. Please stop it, its stupid and kinda looks gullible and disgusting, we don’t have to explain ourselves. I pray they succeed, that’s when we will show them who we are.
Since they wanna take the religious lane. We will march throughout the north with our own agenda of abolishing churches, since in the north Muslims are the Majority, we will cancel Saturdays and Sundays, and adopt friday as our week day. The signs of cross in whatever form should be removed before it hospital or whatsoever. We are not Christians.
SO MY FELLOW NORTHERNERS/MUSLIMS
See we have to fight fire with fire. No time to waste in trying to explain anything to anyone.
They say two wrongs doesn’t make a right. To me I said that’s false TWO WRONGS MAKES RIGHT INDEED
Just listen to yourself hypocrite, you are such a type that cause helm in the country. Are y sure, you are Nigerian by birth. No peace in your life shame ad disgraceful creature
aliyu u are right let us call the attention of our leader to cancel Saturday and Sunday as week end and make it Thursday and Friday for north people bcos Muslim are dominant,.
Biggest mumu of the year
So if they remove it they won’t still know its hundred naira?
Just asking for clarity
Let me call the attention of our dear colleagues on this issue that the inscription our currency is not Arabic but is Hausa way of literal communication, if we can recall from the history of that colonial masters met northern part of Nigeria with established way of Administration,Literacy,Culture, Tradition and Values, that why the colonial Masters decided to imployed indirect rule rule system of administration using the established administration structures and processes to ease governance.
Let me also remained us the literal meaning of LITERACY is the ability to read and write in any language, thats why the colonial Masters Use/add the AJAMI Inscription on our Currency for the ease of financial transaction to all Citizens of Nigeria.
God bless you, afformentio we’re not in the colonial era is the government in the interest of the or against the interest of the nation
You’re communicating
Baba why can’t we throw the trash away and face the reality bro.
Will you agree with me that it is not religion neither ethnicity is our problem in Nigeria but bad leadership.
Together we can say no selfish leaders.
Let there be no peace if only because of the appearance of the Arabic characters on the bank notes. Just as you have said, “Nigeria is for every Nigerian’s” then what about the English characters that are on the bank notes? Are we English? Been colonized by the British doesn’t make us to be British. We are still identified as Black People of Nigeria and Africa’s for that matter. English is centrally and majorly used to write the Bible for use in Nigeria and the same English is in use on the Nigeria bank notes or currencies without any Muslim complaining, objecting or condemning its appearance or presence on the notes but just because of hatred, social uncivilised feelings and religion biases you cannot accommodate your negative inner feelings in order to call a spade,a spade so that there should be religion tolerance. What does the Arabic inscription reduce on you as an individual? The English men that have the English language knows better why they combined both English and a fair part of Arabic so that all irrespective of tribe or religion reasonably carried in the administration of justice. Mind you! If you are talking of language representation, is not only Fulani’s, Igbo’s, Hausa’s, Yoruba’s, Kanuri’s, Itsekiri’s etc that makes Nigaria but a collection of over 500 languages make’s up a country (Nigeria) but the adoption of English and Arabic as a symbol that represent the interest of almost 99% of the country (Nigeria) as stake holders solved a thousand feelings and questions. Let the sleeping dog continue to lay or else it will end not well. If the mouth knows what to say without sense or reasoning so also the ear should often be ready to hear the responses with or without senses. Therefore, REFLECT!
So which change are you talking about and who brought English to Nigeria aren’t they Christians know what you will say .say Na English be your papa’s language stupid . bringing diversity in the name of religion is stupidity
Don’t you think it is best we all just go our separate ways, since we both clearly know we are different people. I don’t know why you so really want to be tied to the southerners.
SHAIKH You are a fool a bastard indeed
The Arabic letters on the note is Hausa Language just the way English alphabets are used to write out Yoruba and Igbo Languages on the notes. If the roar is because it’s Arabic Alphabets of the Language of Islam, lets not forget that the English Alphabets are of the Language of Christian Religion. Those too should be removed. Also the cross symbol of our hospitals and ambulances and the public holidays on Saturday and Sundays which are all Christian and for the sake of Christians should be discontinued. Why doesn’t some people don’t want peace and harmony in this Country?
1. English language is not the language that is associated with the birth of Christianity but Hebrew. English is Nigeria’s official language.
2.We have Muslim holidays in Nigeria not just Christian.
3. The ambulance and hospitals that have the Cross sign are owned by Christians. It’s not mandatory to have them, if a Muslim person has a hospital, they can put their own sign, they own it.
4. In faith based schools, they have their different sign, be it cross or the crescent moons.
5. Nigeria is not owned by an individual, we want peace and harmony which is why people want our languages only to be present in our currency which is a symbol of our country.
6. The main reason we had Arabic writings in our currency during colonialism doesn’t hold anymore. Our neighbouring countries are Francophone not Arabic. If we needed to do transactions with Arabs, there is something called Bureau de Change. Things have advanced making life easier for us.
7. They can be Hausa on our currency as it is part of our languages. We don’t want a religion based language as this is a secular country.
You can use build your own hospital and a big minus sign it’s OK.
Please, stop making that mistake, the medical symbol/sign is the plus sign not the sign of the cross. The plus sign (➕) is different from the sign of the cross.
Go and find out what cross means.learn the history of cross before Jesus, and check what it mean in hospital symbol
Little thing you are raining insults….when is this ignorance taking you to.why is Islam always know for violence and arrogance???????
How barbaric can you be.
Bar dan iska kawai da addinin musulunci yake so yayi fada aniyar sa ta bishi
You call someone bastard???…shame on you why can’t hebrew be inscribed on our currency but arab can???…you’re delusional
We are not Islamic state, why not Chinese or french then we can fully understand that it’s not there for islamic purposes.
No constructive argument from you . ONLY to curse and scream to corver up your ignorance
Mr bully! Can’t you make your points without attacking someone? Pls learn to address issues of concern and not attack a person! Nigeria remains a secular state and citizen has the right to express his or her opinion
Are u not a cow like this so?
Why so much hate?
In this twenty first century, that inscription longer plays any role and should be removed from a new notes to be printed henceforth.
However, existing notes should not be discarded because of this mere inscription.
God bless Nigeria.
Chief Rufus Ikhanvbode Jp.
Wlh he is crazy
My brother it’s not like that, what he mean is that the Arabic word in our currency simply means that the whole of Nigeria are Islam but the word should be change to enlish, Yoruba, hausa, nor Igbo beside it’s not only the northerners has non educated people’s thanks
The colonial Master done mighty damage to us aside giving us freedom.Arabic language ain’t there language why enforcing it on us if it is not their selfish interest it must be removed for mutual understanding
Fighting for the removal doesn’t say they want to replace it with Aramaic or Hebrew. If you read the whole thing carefully you will know that they want to change it to our official language or any of the major ethnic languages in Nigeria. You’re the one talking about religion discrimination so you should question why Hebrew wasn’t inscribe on the currencies as well
Who is CBN and who is Nigeria? Nonsense for anyone to come in attack of removing Arabic inscription in this country called Nigeria. Some people are mentally sick, this the main problem we have in this country, tell me how to tell the world that sensible country would adopt to two contesting religion in one country currency and judisuary.
The leaders of this country is stupid and useless to trust if at this time they are still contemplating what could be the problems of this country and way forward to save it.
Tell me how you fell you can have two family with two defrent language and expect peace to be in their mist?
They should remove it immediately and also end sharia court in this country if they need this country as one Nigeria!!!
Correct. In fact all things that symbolize any religion should stop starting with removing Sunday as a work free day
Are you truly Honourable in the way and manner you have expressed yourself?
Read over what you expressed and written to be able to answer this question.
Thank you.
No no problem, Sunday also will be removed as a work free day
Very stupid not only in words but also indeed, now even after this statement, u’ll still claim at ur gatherings in the mosque that Islam is of peace, Peace my fucking foot even if some ppl are willing to go down the religious lane does ur Quran also tells u to follow them on that same path and from ur statement I think ur Quran supports violence rather than the peace it claims to preach and we’ve got a big problem on ground.
U need to open ur eyes to the truth
Okay let’s take ur argument into consideration “The Quran doesn’t support violence”
* But u are willing to kill to protect some damned integrity of a dead man and his dairy
* Okay the Quran may not be all about violence then but we must all note it has enough to turn the heart of fellow humans against one another
Tell me have u seen a Christian in this new age openly burnt for saying Jesus Christ is a fool or is stupid, of course not and even if anyone says that he’ll just be ignored and ppl will start praying for him and the worst that will happen is that ppl might think he is mentally challenged and he will be prayed for or taken to a hospital or just simply ignored but if it’s said that ******** is a fool na tires and fuel remain plus extreme beating to near death injuries I don’t know why the heck u’ll take up arms for a god that can’t fight for itself and if u believe ur god is that powerful let it fight it’s own battles not u fighting for it.
Christianity has evolved to the point where even if a pastor incites riots or commit murders the pastor is literally going against his religious beliefs and can nolonger be considered a pastor and if he wants to hide behind a Bible verse or chapter he’s gonna have to read the entire bible which will end up condemning / denouncing and finally making him to repent unlike ur religion the erring imam will hide behind a Quranic chapter to support his initiatives and even reading the Quran to the finish will end up strengthening his resolve.
Have u seen a fight btw Catholic and Protestant it’s not even possible cos Las las no be the same Jesus Dem go call if una wan pray
But currently right now there is still a violent purging going on btw Sharia’s and Sunnis
I just imagine waking up 10pm for night to take that meat wey I don mark for pot only for my fingers to be cut off the next morning. Haba on top meat wey pesin go still eat
Being a Christian doesn’t give u the liberty to kill someone but being a Muslim gives that much and even promises paradic rewards.
(Laughably pathetic)
What will u do if u enter a plane and someone starts reciting a psalm 91 or 23 yeah apart from the unease ur fanatism to ur religion causes u, u are not threatened in anyway well since u can literally hear all what is being said but if u enter a plane and someone starts reciting any random Quranic verse and on looking at him/her they are fully dressed in the Islamic mode of dressing and slightly bows their head wahlahi u are gonna scream Jesus when u hear a random rapid beeping sound: and that’s the tattered image of ur so called peaceful religion.
In the south here apart from jealousy, envy and other vices no one dies from a machete injury or burning tires simply becos they exercised their freedom of speech but over in the north it’s the fucking opposite everyday it’s like ur religion and Holy Quran was established on blood and bodies ur religion should make u help each other not kill each other for differing opinions.
It’s really simple remove the fucking Arabic inscription no one here in this country is of an Arab minority so why the hell is that inscription on the Nigerian note a fucking national symbol and I saw some brainless replies about the English language…. Very stupid replies I mean u literally know a person by the question he/she asks and not by the answer they give and those ppl asking such childlike questions are really exceptional at showcasing how stupid they are. Nigeria is an anglophone country and we adopted the English language not just becos we were colonized by the speakers but cos we are all united in slavery (nah just jk ) it’s cos in language we are all diversified but the English language brings us together and not only that Africa still views the colonists as great powers and their countries as heaven and if u wanna live abroad u gotta speak English and if u have a problem with it go try receive ur visa while communicating only in ur local language.
If u still have a problem with English then go to the Middle East for ur vacation and holidays, u’ll really enjoy relating with ppl of ur kind who speak the same language with u and can kill u for just trying to be like them.
The CBN is just dabbling into religious matters if they refuse to change their mindset cos the north is not the only place with uneducated ppl the south also has its own share. For fucks sake this is a national symbol it should be free of all forms of religious symbols and foreign languages which are not official and I look forward to seeing a message from a northerner with an increased sense of national identity not clouded by religious beliefs.
At least someone is making sense, but at the end someone would still ask him to keep shut. Nigeria won’t grow with this same people kn power, we can’t get total independence with this kind of non progress mindset .
I only have one question to ask CBN and Co., and my question is which tribe in Nigeria has Arabic as her language?
The best opinion for me. Thank you so much
Hmmmm!!!
I thought our naira notes were designed after our indepence. What right does the colonialist had to dictate what should be or shouldn’t be on our currency?
What is the interest of CBN in this. Are they saying that our languages in Nigeria should not promoted or more important to us than the arabic inscription on our naira notes.
I think it should be an issue of debate with the participation of all Nigerians and not some few individuals.
There is more to this. God help us.
This Islamic inscription on naira note is just one of the one million problems we have in Nigeria (ZOO). If because of the Hausa populace don’t understand English what about Yoruba, Igbo and other populace are they all have western education? Nigeria we are not ONE UN please divide this country for peace.
God bless you
CBN defence is very weak and does not make sense. In the colonial period, this inscriptions were put on the naira because majority of Notherner lack Western education then, can that be said of the current Notherner Nigeria?. The Arabic inscriptions have overstayed its relevance, it should be expunged. It is no longer needed as Notherners are now far more educated than the colonial period. The arabic inscriptions on our currencies should be removed immediately, or replaced with our local languages.
I respect everyone’s thoughts on this.
Leaving every other things behind.
1. What is the means of the inscription?
2. How does it help a child in Nigeria?
3. Should we at this time consider having colonial inscription on our symbols of independence?
4. Will replacing the inscription with the 3 languages just as CBN did on the polymer notes help communicate one Nigeria?
5. Should we use Nigerian Pigin English invented since its becoming recognised?
Thanks.
It is not my business what the meaning is. The impression created with the inscription is enough to compromise the secularism of Nigeria State. It should be taken out period.
The symbol is not our language or our adopted lingua franca, so should be changed to any of our native languages.
Is like some foolish Nigerians dont even know our problem, don’t even know what we should waste our energy on,what is the problem with Arabic inscription in the currency? Which threat has that made to other non Muslims? You don’t know the waste of resources that it will cost the country? Finally you don’t know that is not all Arab that are Muslims,Arabic speaker are Muslims and no Muslims if you dont know.I don’t know why much of you fail to know that you guys ignorant is a channel of belligerency to our nation. Foolish people.
this is a shame to the deginitylty of this country that some ethnic nationality will believe that they are better than the others,time will tell and that time is now,we must unravel the shains of slavely in our hands,it is time to put some people where they really belong idiots
Mumu is there anyone or tribe who speak Arabic in this Country? Use your sense before talking.
Why much emphasis on Arabic inscription on our notes? Are we Arabic or even Ajami as posited? Remove it. It doesn’t stop you from serving your Islam or Christianity. CBN’s defense is so childish and pedestrian. People defending that idea are rather myopic. The Arabic inscription doesn’t make any sense in our Nigeria of today and in history.
Those for inscription to stay are very violent in their contribution. It not defendable and should be expunged.
You are the one that is foolish here,how can you speak such foolish and nonentity words here,that Islamic language must be removed with immediate effect,
Why all these vetuperations and expletives for a simple issue, I think it’s high we for the unity of this Nation and eschew religious and ethnic bigotry. The CBNs argument that Arabic is inscribed on our naira notes is to aid the uneducated from the north, what effort did they put in place to aid the uneducated from the South? Let’s go for what will unify and sustain our country’s unity. Best, English should be used, because shouldn’t be using the term”uneducated” in this 22dt century. This country has been ruled for a long time by the northern oligarchy, so whose fault is it that we still have uneducated elements in the North.?
Your translation is commendable but since Arabic isn’t part of our language, it should be written in Hausa language instead.
Thank you for this enlightenment. Hope to give this information more wider publicity through conventional media outlets so that the populace get to know, understand and appreciate the reason for the inscription.
As CBN claimed “to aid the populace uneducated in western education ease of trade” that OK but this NIGERIA NOT ARAB, THE INSCRIPTION SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM NIGERIANS CURRENCIES.