The Central Bank of Nigeria has debunked claims circulating on social media about the introduction of a ₦5,000 banknote featuring President Bola Tinubu.
A viral image showing the proposed note sparked widespread reactions online, with many users believing it to be an official release by the apex bank.
However, the CBN clarified the situation via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that the image is fake and urging the public to disregard the information.
Further analysis using AI detection tools reportedly showed that the image was more than 90 percent artificially generated, indicating it was created using advanced artificial intelligence software commonly used for digital content creation.
The idea of introducing a ₦5,000 note is not entirely new. The CBN had proposed such a denomination in 2012, but the plan was later scrapped in 2022 following public concerns and policy considerations.
According to provisions of the CBN Act 2007, the apex bank retains exclusive authority to design, produce, and circulate Nigeria’s currency without requiring legislative approval.
The clarification comes amid growing concerns over the spread of misinformation fueled by AI-generated content on social media platforms.
