Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)  has warned Nigerians, especially market women, against spraying, hawking and mutilating of the naira, the nation’s national currency.

Olayemi Cardoso, governor, CBN, who was represented by Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, acting director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, spoke at the Central Bank Fair, held in Kaduna on Thursday.

He said the Fair was designed as a platform to interact with members of the public on the policies of the CBN for sustainable economic growth and development of the country.

The Fair was themed “Driving Alternative Payment Channels as Tools for Financial Inclusion, Growth and Accelerated Economic Development”.

The CBN boss said the theme was carefully chosen to address the links that catalyse Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and other critical activities for the much-needed price stability.

“I urge everyone here to rely only on information disseminated through the verifiable official channels of the Central Bank of Nigeria. I also encourage you to respect and keep the naira clean. Do not spray, hawk, mutilate or counterfeit the naira. It is our critical national symbol.

“The core objective of this engagement, therefore, is to sensitise members of the public on how the Bank’s policies enhance their lives and livelihood and contribute to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.

“Our dedicated team is on hand to take us through presentations on different operations of the Bank, ranging from the recent innovations in the Nigerian payments system; microfinance sub-sector activities; developments in the foreign exchange market, protection of financial consumers and all you need to know about the naira.

“The Management of the Bank is committed to stimulating productivity and financial inclusiveness, as well as delivering on its core mandate of monetary and price stability.

“These efforts have already started yielding positive results, which include increases of inflows of foreign investments, positive trade balances and remarkable progress in financial inclusion.

“The CBN has spearheaded several key policies to strengthen the financial system which includes exchange rate unification; to minimise arbitrage opportunities and reduce volatility in the foreign exchange market and cleared over $7bn verified backlog of FX forwards.

“It also include Bank Recapitalisation; to strengthen the resilience and global competitiveness of the banking sector, positioning it to support the $1 trillion economy, launched the non-resident BVN to connect Nigerians abroad with home banking, unveiled the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028 (PSV 2028); to accelerate digital transformation, deepen financial inclusion, and position Nigeria more strongly in global payments.

“To further protect banks’ customers and strengthen consumer confidence, the CBN launched the Unified Complaints Tracking System (UCTS) to streamline the management of consumer complaints against financial institutions. Alongside this, USSD code (*959#) was also introduced for verifying licensed institutions, and enhancing transparency in the Nigerian financial sector,” Governor Cardoso said.

Speaking earlier, Ahmad Dalhatu, Kaduna branch Controller of CBN, reaffirmed that the CBN Fair is one of the Bank’s major public enlightenment initiatives aimed at sensitising members of the public on the Bank’s policies, programmes, and interventions.

“It serves as a platform to deepen financial literacy, promote transparency, and strengthen trust between the Bank and the Nigerian people.

“Over the years, the Fair has evolved into a veritable channel for fostering two-way communication between the Central Bank and the Nigerian public. It enables us not only to explain our policies but also to listen to your concerns, feedback, and expectations. This year’s event continues in that tradition, and I encourage everyone here to actively participate in the discussions.

“As we navigate the evolving economic landscape—both globally and locally—the need for increased public awareness of monetary policy, financial inclusion, consumer protection, digital payments, and intervention programmes cannot be overemphasised. The CBN remains committed to ensuring a sound financial system and an inclusive economy where every Nigerian can thrive,” Dalhatu said.

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has deployed state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to enhance traffic management, strengthen security surveillance and reinforce public safety across Lagos metropolis.

Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, general manager of the authority, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki, said the transition from traditional analog method to advanced digital intelligence harmonised with the visionary mandate of the state government.

He added that “this accentuates the administration’s steadfast dedication to leveraging innovation in pursuit of sustainable urban mobility, heightened safety and operational excellence.

“Through aerial reconnaissance and high-definition monitoring capabilities, the UAVs will empower LASTMA to be proactive in traffic management and control across the state.

“The deployment of device signifies a watershed moment in Lagos’ traffic management ecosystem, seamlessly elevating the authority from conventional reactive enforcement to predictive, intelligence-driven operations.”

Bakare-Oki said the drones would provide real-time aerial oversight, enabling swifter interventions, improved safety outcomes, augmented emergency response coordination, bolstered security frameworks, and the cultivation of a more disciplined motoring culture.

He reassured the public that the deployment would be conducted under stringent adherence to privacy safeguards, ethical standards and regulatory compliance, thereby reinforcing public trust in the system’s transparency and integrity.

“The authority reaffirms its unwavering resolve to continuously innovate in traffic management, reduce travel times, curtail road traffic mishaps, and preserve lives and property throughout Lagos State,” he said.

“This milestone stands as yet another resounding testament to the THEMES+ Agenda of Gov. Sanwo-Olu, wherein technology and innovation serve as indispensable drivers of a safer, smarter, and more habitable Lagos.”

The LASTMA boss maintained that this modern technological intervention would complement LASTMA’s prompt responsiveness to emergencies, accidents and other traffic-related contingencies, in addition to existing LASTMA Toll-Free Hotline — 080000527862.

Starlink, the satellite internet provider operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has stopped taking new orders for residential kits in parts of Lagos and in Abuja after network capacity was reached, the company’s online ordering page shows.

Neighborhoods listed as sold out include Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lagos Island and Surulere.

Prospective customers in those areas can join a wait list by paying a deposit and will be notified when service space opens.

At Chevyville Estate in Lekki, one resident trying to subscribe was met with a message that read: “Starlink service is currently at capacity in your area. However, you can place a deposit now to reserve your spot on the waitlist and receive a notification as soon as service becomes available again.”

That experience mirrors what consumers in other busy districts are seeing.

A Starlink engineer who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal limits said the company temporarily closes new sales in zones where adding customers would degrade service for existing users.

“It happens when the area cannot take a new customer due to its designed capacity at the time,” the engineer said.

“This also helps preserve a steady connection for people already online.” Remedies can include adding more ground infrastructure, securing regulatory clearances, or expanding satellite coverage.

Since entering Nigeria, Starlink’s monthly fee has climbed: the service began at about N38,000 (roughly $25), rose to about N45,000 ($30) and — by 2025 — was charging roughly N56,000 ($37).

Starlink has cited naira depreciation, higher operating expenses and costs tied to meeting rules set by the Nigerian Communications Commission for the increases.

Those higher prices, and the service interruptions, appear to have affected subscription numbers. After a near eight-month pause that began in November 2024 and was tied to limited bandwidth and regulatory issues, orders resumed in late June 2025.

Still, data from the NCC show active Starlink users in Nigeria fell from 65,564 in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 59,509 in the first quarter of 2025, a decline of more than 6,000 users, or about 9 percent.

Analysts point to the price rises, service holds and economic pressure as key reasons for the drop; some customers have switched to cheaper alternatives or stopped service.

As Elon Musk maintains his position as the world’s richest individual, with a net worth of $429 billion (according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index), his commitment to global digital inclusion through Starlink remains a central focus.

Starlink’s activity in Nigeria is part of a wider push across Africa.

The company has recently moved to enter markets including Lesotho and Somalia and secured permission to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo after earlier restrictions,

SpaceX is also working with operators such as Airtel Africa to reach rural areas where wired internet is scarce.

For many users in Nigeria, the appeal of Starlink remains clear: a reliable option where terrestrial networks falter.

But until the company expands capacity or adjusts pricing, consumers in dense urban pockets may have to wait for access or turn to other providers.

Credit excluding Headline: Pm News