1 Naira NGN #387

Front

Traditional Nigerian village scene depicting two figures carrying loads on their heads in front of thatched-roof huts, representing daily life and agricultural activities in rural Nigeria. This design emphasizes the cultural heritage and traditional lifestyle of Nigerian communities. The circular watermark area at left shows the national coat of arms featuring the black shield with wavy white bands representing the Niger and Benue rivers, supported by two horses, with the eagle of strength above. The denomination 'ONE NAIRA' appears at bottom, with decorative guilloche patterns throughout.

Back

General Murtala Ramat Mohammed (1938–1976), Nigerian military officer who served as Head of State from July 1975 until his assassination in February 1976. During his brief tenure, Mohammed initiated major reforms including the purging of corrupt officials, the relocation of the federal capital to Abuja, and the creation of new states. He is remembered as one of Nigeria's most decisive and reform-minded leaders. His portrait appears at left, with Arabic script (عشرون نيرا) meaning 'Twenty Naira' visible in decorative panel at center-right. The serial number B/28 861858 appears at top right.

History

This 1 Naira note belongs to the second series of Nigerian banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, introduced in 1984 following the military government's currency reforms. The series maintained the Naira and Kobo denominations established in 1973 when Nigeria decimalized its currency. The front depicts traditional Nigerian village life, emphasizing the nation's cultural roots and agricultural heritage. The back features General Murtala Mohammed, whose short-lived but impactful administration (July 1975 – February 1976) is widely regarded as a transformative period in Nigerian history. Mohammed's portrait was added to Nigerian currency to honor his legacy of anti-corruption measures and national development initiatives. This note was officially withdrawn from circulation in 2007 when polymer notes were introduced for lower denominations, though it remained legal tender for exchange. The serial format with prefix B/28 indicates this is from a later print run within the series. No known public serial-year encoding identified for this issuer.