The claim that the CBN has unveiled a new ₦5000 note with the image of President Bola Tinubu has been fact-checked
Several social media users claimed that the new note would be released later in 2025 and the first sample was released in January
The Facebook post reads in part: “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled the first sample of the ₦5000 note, which will soon be distributed to banks. The note features a portrait of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. …CONTINUE READING
Recall that in 2012, the apex bank announced plans to introduce the ₦5000 note to Nigerians. However, the CBN backtracked these moves in 2022. Over the years, the elites have been calling on the government to introduce the ₦5000 notes.
The claim about the new ₦5000 has been made on several other Facebook pages but Africa Check has confirmed that the ₦5000 image in circulation was an AI-generated image.
Recall that the CBN initiated the move to redesign Nigeria’s currency in 2022. The development led to a temporary shortage of the new notes over ineffective distribution.
However, the claim that the apex bank plans to create a new ₦5000 notes in 2025 has not been reported by any credible media. Such news would have made the headlines if the report was genuine.
The social media users who shared the questionable ₦5000 notes tried to crop out the “Grok” watermark on the image. The watermark was an indication that the ₦5000 note being shared on Facebook was generated by Grok, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) embedded in the microblog, X.
The Grok uses complex computer algorithms to perform tasks that can be carried out by humans. It answers questions and writes codes.
Over time, many people on social media have used AI tools to spread misinformation. Such claims have been fact-checked and debunked by several recognised fact-checking organisations.
