Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC’s executive chairman, has urged key players in the anti-graft fight to join forces with the Commission to combat the threat of naira abuse in the nation.
He made an appeal on Friday during a meeting with important stakeholders, including , music producers, musicians, non-governmental organizations, media, bureau de change operators, legal practitioners, security agencies, and others.
He claimed that the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1’s program was a result of the nation’s growing trend of Naira mutilation and abuse.
The Naira, according to the EFCC boss, serves as a powerful symbol of national pride and sovereignty. It is also a means of exchange.
He continued, “The Naira is a symbol of our sovereignty,” underscoring that Nigeria’s economic stability and national image are directly affected by its value and integrity. How we handle it determines how much of our people we respect.
He also criticized the widespread use of stamping, mutilation, and spraying as a form of social behavior.
“Over the past year, the EFCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have increased enforcement and public awareness campaigns to combat Naira abuse. He cited the establishment of a Task Force on Dollarization and Naira Abuse, as well as the prosecution of offenders, including prominent public figures and celebrities.
Olukoyede also refuted the widespread notion that “cultural practice” is to spray Naira, particularly at social events.
He claims that it is impossible for me to throw my hard-earned money into the air because I work for a living. He said that ignorance of the law is a crime, and that it is not an offense.
Naira abuse is a criminal offence under the CBN Act and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which expends substantial resources replacing defaced or mutilated notes.
Therefore, he urged entertainers, influencers, and stakeholders in the creative industry to make use of their platforms to promote the proper handling of the Naira, stating that “let one of your opening lines serve as a reminder to your fans that spraying or stamping on the Naira is a crime.” We must stand up and defend our currency’s integrity.
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The Bola Tinubu administration’s policy of implementing strategic enforcement, responsible asset recovery, and public enlightenment was also reaffirmed by the anti-graft Czar at the same time.
Further, he further explained that flagship social investment initiatives like the National Education Loan Fund (NELFund) and the Consumer Credit Scheme (Credicorp) already have committed the sum of N100BN in recovered proceeds from crime.
He cited instances of recovered assets being used to finance development projects like the NDDC’s Bayelsa skill acquisition center and liaison office and the transformation of a seized property into the Kachia Federal University of Applied Sciences.
Lanre Issa-Onilu, director general of the National Orientation Agency, praised the creative sector for its significant contributions to national development.
He also urged industry stakeholders to acknowledge and take pride in their significant influence on the nation’s values and image.
He asserted that the abuse of the Naira is unethical and not just unlawful. We as citizens must demonstrate civic responsibility and cohesion. Our choices must be in line with the National Values Charter. We must use values as our guide in everything we do.
Issa-Onilu claimed that the NOA’s intervention is in line with both the National Values Charter and the Nigerian Identity Project’s (NIP) and its main objective of upholding civic responsibility, patriotism, and respect for national symbols.
The Naira is not confetti, they say. It serves no purpose other than to add prestige. Respect is a requirement for this valuable national asset. Issa-Onilu remarked, “You honor Nigeria when you honor the Naira.”
He stated that the NOA is committed to a national campaign to change attitudes.
According to him, “ongoing efforts include multilingual media sensitization, school outreach, market advocacy, and the deployment of the agency’s AI-powered voice/chat assistant CLHEEAN, which provides real-time civic information on crime, abuse, health, and patriotism via www. noa. gov. ng”.
The DG stressed that “this campaign must be national in scope but local in execution. Calls on traditional leaders, religious institutions, influencers, market unions, and especially the youth to become champions of national values. Everyone has a part to play in restoring the Naira’s dignity. Let’s rekindle the trend of respect for our currency.
The Commission’s wider campaign to uphold Nigeria’s economic values and the dignity of the Naira was reflected in the sensitization program, which brought together key players from the entertainment, financial, and regulatory sectors.
Source: Channels TV
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