Old ₦100 notes cause confusion among Ondo traders, residents despite CBN clarification

By Boye Oyeyemi

The circulation of old-design ₦100 banknotes has caused confusion among traders and residents in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The notes were reportedly sighted in several markets and business locations across the town, leaving traders, transport operators, Point-of-Sale agents and other residents uncertain about their validity.

Checks in some commercial areas showed that customers were using the old notes to pay for goods and services, with some recipients subsequently passing them on during routine transactions.

The development reportedly caught some traders off guard, as some had assumed that the old-design notes were no longer acceptable following the circulation of newer versions of the ₦100 denomination.

A trader, Iya Temi, said the sudden appearance of the notes initially caused apprehension among sellers who were unsure whether they could legally accept them.

“We were surprised when some customers started paying with the old ₦100 notes, and some traders were reluctant to collect them because they believed the notes were no longer valid,” she said.

Similarly, a Point-of-Sale operator, Niyi, said the development had heightened the need for greater public awareness about the status of the currency, particularly among residents who might not be familiar with the latest position of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Western Post confirmed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in a statement issued on July 9, 2026, reaffirmed that both the standard ₦100 banknote and the commemorative ₦100 note remain legal tender and should be accepted for transactions nationwide.