Table of Contents
The CBN has renewed its warning against naira abuse, urging Nigerians to stop spraying, mutilating and hawking the national currency. The Central Bank of Nigeria says such treatment of banknotes is both an offence and a disservice to a key symbol of the country.
The message forms part of the bank’s ongoing campaign to protect the naira and keep clean notes in circulation.
What the CBN said about naira abuse
Speaking on behalf of the bank, CBN Deputy Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Sidi Ali Hakama, appealed to the public to treat the currency with respect. “Please respect it and keep it clean. Do not spray, mutilate, or hawk the naira,” she said.
The bank framed currency abuse as both a legal matter and a question of national pride. It also pledged to maintain a steady supply of clean banknotes, addressing a common complaint about the condition of cash in circulation.
Why spraying and hawking are problems
Spraying money at parties and celebrations is a long-standing custom in many parts of Nigeria, but the practice often involves stepping on, squeezing and soiling notes. Hawking of cash, where traders sell newer notes at a premium, compounds the strain on the currency and undermines its everyday use.
Mutilated and defaced notes wear out faster and can be rejected in transactions, forcing the bank to print replacements sooner. Reducing abuse therefore helps extend the life of banknotes and lowers the cost of keeping cash in good condition.
The law on currency abuse
Under Nigerian law, abusing the naira is an offence that can attract penalties. The CBN has repeatedly highlighted these provisions to discourage practices it says damage the currency, even as enforcement and public awareness remain works in progress.
By restating the rules, the bank aims to shift behaviour through education as much as sanction. It has encouraged Nigerians to see the naira as a shared national asset worth protecting rather than a prop for display.
Why it matters
A clean, well-managed currency supports confidence in the financial system and eases day-to-day transactions for ordinary people. When notes are abused, the burden of replacing them ultimately falls on the public purse.
Changing long-held habits
Spraying money is woven into the fabric of many Nigerian celebrations, from weddings to funerals, which makes changing the practice a cultural as much as a legal challenge. The CBN has acknowledged this, framing its message around respect for the currency rather than seeking to end festivities altogether.
Public awareness campaigns, the bank suggests, work best alongside the steady availability of clean notes and clear communication about the law. When people understand both the rules and the reasons behind them, the bank believes behaviour is more likely to shift over time.
The condition of cash in circulation affects everyone, from market traders to commuters who rely on physical money daily. By urging Nigerians to handle the naira with care, the central bank is appealing to a shared interest in keeping the currency functional, durable and trusted across the economy.
The CBN’s renewed appeal signals that the issue remains a priority for the bank. Viorah TV will continue to report on the campaign against naira abuse and any further steps the central bank takes to safeguard the currency and maintain a steady flow of clean notes.
