NOA Alerts Public to Circulation of Fake ₦1,000 Notes in Akwa Ibom’s Coastal Communities

Fake ₦1,000 notes are circulating in Akwa Ibom’s riverine areas, prompting public safety warnings.

NOA urges vigilance as syndicates target cash-based markets with counterfeit bills bearing poor features.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has raised an alarm over the widespread circulation of counterfeit ₦1,000 notes in several riverine communities in Akwa Ibom State, warning residents to be vigilant and cautious in their financial dealings.

In a statement issued on Friday, the spokesperson for the agency, Jackson Ibok, disclosed that the affected areas include Udung Uko, Mbo, Oron, Okobo, and Ibeno coastal communities, where the illicit currency is being used to deceive unsuspecting traders and Point-of-Sale (POS) operators.

The State Director of the NOA, Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, who acted on intelligence reports, confirmed that criminal syndicates have infiltrated local markets with fake currency. According to him, the counterfeit ₦1,000 notes bear batch numbers 364232 and 898248 and are easily identifiable by their poor security features.

“These counterfeit notes feature blurry portraits, unclear watermarks, and irregular security markings, which distinguish them from genuine legal tender,” Mkpoutom explained. He added that the criminals appear to be deliberately targeting informal economic hubs where transactions are mainly cash-based and verification of currency authenticity is minimal.

Describing the act as both “unpatriotic and heinous,” the NOA director warned that the circulation of fake currency not only undermines public trust in the financial system but also has the potential to destabilize local economies, particularly in vulnerable communities.

Mkpoutom urged traders, POS operators, and the general public to scrutinize every ₦1,000 note they receive and report any suspicious currency to the nearest police station or relevant security agency. He also called for stronger collaboration between financial institutions, security agencies, and community leaders to track down and dismantle the criminal networks responsible.

“The public must stay alert and work hand-in-hand with law enforcement to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.