No, the title is not misleading. The 100 Naira notes in circulation can make you very sick. Because of the state of these 100 Naira notes, attendants at the supermarket very close to my house don’t like me…the feeling is mutual though. It’s no longer news that these Naira notes in circulation (even 200 naira notes) are mutilated, dirty, rough and extremely irritating.

Well-meaning Nigerians have called on CBN to do something about the condition of Naira notes we have circulating, but all we get as response is another blame game play.

On Wednesday, Digital Media Practitioners of Nigeria (DMPN), added their voice to this outcry, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria to consider re branding of 100naira notes. They took to social media, using the hashtag – #100NairaNotes to share their thoughts on why CBN should swing into action.

Also, as reported by Osun Defender, “Residents, traders and others in Ile Ife and Modakeke, State of Osun have expressed worry over the scarcity of lower denomination of 100 Naira note. The residents, traders and others on Wednesday expressed concerns over the scarcity of the note in the town.”

There are piled up studies in recent years, describing exactly how mutilated currency is bacteria laden. Fecal bacteria and other pathogens may have hitched a ride from someone’s hands, nose or apron onto our cash. And yeast or mold might have taken hold, too. The result could be a risk to our health whenever our money changes hands. While we encourage the masses to keep their hands clean by washing them at all times, the poor state of the naira notes being circulated cannot be overlooked or overemphasized. This increases the risk of contracting bacteria from the naira notes by over 1000%.

On the 24^th of March 2017, ThisDay reported that The House of Representatives passed a resolution urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to urgently withdraw and arrange for the destruction of mutilated currency notes in circulation as well as replace with new ones. The House, particularly expressed concern that these unfit currency notes harbour pathogenic micro-organisms which are hazardous to human health as well as laden with infectious diseases including diarrhea, food poisoning and respiratory problems from bad notes.” While I do not have proof to back my claim if I say this resolution was not followed through, the state of our naira notes barely one year after that resolution, leaves me with no other conclusion.

While we hope the people in charge swing into action, here are few tips you can follow to protect yourself from the hazardous 100 Naira Note:

1. Wash your hands regularly
2. Use sanitizers
3. Keep the Naira notes away from food, fruits and children.
4. Try to go as cashless as possible.

That way, you’ll not only protect others from receiving currency notes full of germs from your hands, but also protect yourself from countless illnesses!