The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has warned that anyone caught spraying the Naira risks going to jail alongside their commercial bank staff collaborators as well as any official from the Central Bank that has a hand in facilitating their access to the newly-redesigned local currency.
According to Emefiele, those who legitimately earned money, will not be spraying money like the people seen in trending videos have done, adding that all those seen spraying the newly-redesigned currency will be traced and prosecuted.
“We have found one of them. They will go to jail because they have broken the law. You cannot go and collaborate with bank officials to release Naira notes while those who need legitimate transactions cannot get them. I have told the ICPC, EFCC and others to find them and when you find them, trace them to bank officials and the Central Bank officials behind them.
“This is not targeted at anybody. We are only doing our job according to the law and should be allowed to do so for the good of the economy,” he warned.
Speaking to journalists at the apex bank’s office in Lagos, Emefiele frowned at some incidences of widespread hoarding and predatory activities of some vendors.
He said, “We appeal to those involved in these nefarious activities to please desist from such practices. This is because these actions if left unchecked, could derail the achievement of the objectives of the Naira redesign policy.
“It has also come to our notice that at some branches, customers have become aggressive, verbally and/or physically abusing bank staff. They have also damaged or destroyed bank property, premises, and assets. We enjoin Nigerians to be peaceful and law-abiding when they visit bank branches as this wanton destruction will be counterproductive, reducing the number of financial access points in these communities. - Tribune.
