Nigerians have been sternly warned to stop abusing the naira as the punishment will now attract severe punishment.
Naira notes
The Central Bank of Nigeria on Friday warned Nigerians against abusing the naira notes, Punch has reported.
An official of the Currency Operation Department of the CBN in Abuja, Mr. Samuel Shuaibu, in Calabar, Cross River State, during the commencement of a ‘CBN Fair’ to sensitise campaign for residents in the state on the appropriate use of the naira said anyone caught abusing the naira would be prosecuted and if convicted the person risked six months in jail fine of N50, 000.
The fair had the theme: Promoting Financial Stability and Economic Development.
Shuaibu said that the abuse of the naira was not in line with the CBN’s policy, adding that offenders would henceforth be arrested and prosecuted.
According to him, the awareness programme was aimed at sensitising the public on the need to accord respect to naira, online transfer system, how to identify fake currency notes, how to approach the CBN for complaints amongst others.
Shuaibu said, “The naira has suffered abuse from a majority of Nigerians. Today, we find some people spraying the naira in occasions, soiling it, writing on it, squeezing it while others are hawking it.
“The CBN spent a lot of money in the printing of this naira notes. We urge Nigerians to respect the naira and value it. Anyone caught abusing the naira will risk a jail term of six months or pay a fine of N50, 000.”
He urged Nigerians to desist from home banking, adding that such money could be gutted by fire outbreak or carted away by criminals.
The bank’s Head of Development Financial Department, Mr. Chukwudum Nzelu, added that the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the apex bank has led to an increase in the local production of rice from 30 to 70 per cent.
Nzelu said the CBN was also designing other agricultural programmes that would engage thousands of Nigerians youths in meaningful agricultural ventures that would make them self-reliant.