The MINT MD: Why redesigned naira notes leave ink stains on white surfaces

The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) Plc has allayed the fears of Nigerians over the quality of the redesigned naira notes.

The company, also referred to as The MINT, is responsible for producing the naira, Nigeria’s currency.

In a statement on Friday, signed by Ahmed. A. Halilu, its managing director, NSPM said its attention has been drawn to various clips, skits, concerns and comments on diverse platforms regarding the quality of the redesigned notes.

On October 26, 2022, Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, announced plans to redesign the naira to control money supply and aid security agencies in tackling illicit financial flows.

On November 23, the new notes — N200, N500 and N1000 — were launched, and banks began to dispense the redesigned currency denominations on December 15, 2022.

Addressing misconceptions about the quality of the new naira notes, Halilu said they were of the same substrates as the existing ones and passed through the same printing processes and finishing procedures.

“It is, therefore, basically the same as the other notes in circulation,” he explained.

The NSPM managing director also said the new naira notes leave traces of intaglio inks when rubbed on plain white surfaces.

This, he said, was a it’s security feature which makes it easy to identify fake currency.

“It is, however, important to note that new banknotes are generally light when issued, then become heavier in circulation on getting in contact with dirt and moisture,” Halilu added.

“In addition, the second stage of currency printing (intaglio) requires a heavy deposit of special inks with fairly large particles to give a tactile feeling of the portraits as well as other raised prints by way of design.

“One of the properties of intaglio inks is non-solubility in water and ease of transfer (light stain) on plain white materials owing to the size of the particles.

“This is generally a security feature of all banknotes that easily differentiates them from forged or counterfeited notes.”

Halilu further said the best international practices have been deployed in the production of the new naira notes, adding that his agency would continue to ensure that it meets international standards.

“The naira is our legal tender and national symbol. We, therefore, urge Nigerians and other users of the naira banknotes not to subject our banknotes to experiment in order to prove a point,” he said.