When the Federal Government rolled out the decision to take away the old and tattered notes, and release new notes into the financial system of the country, to me and many people it was a good news because there’s a need to stop spending and seeing the old and tattered notes again in our community, states and of course around us.
However, when the time came for the new notes to be issued by the government to the public, the dignity of the naira notes was back into form and there was a change in the financial sector concerning the currency
But as the time goes on, it looks like our way of handling the Nigerian currency is seriously out of it and we do not even have respect for the notes at all, by the way we handle it, either by squeezing it and even writing on it.
Some even, place the naira notes under their shoes or sandals, for reasons best known to them, while some people even match on it, either at a party or an event, and the most shocking is that this abuse of notes has to do with the new naira notes already in the country, as we don’t even want to know whether it is the new or old notes.
You will see adults mishandling and squeezing the naira notes in a shameful way that is unexpected at all, especially if they want to spend it, and the young ones, also follow the trend because that is the way they think the notes can be handled, and until you tell to stop handling it that way, they might not see it as an offence or sin.
Even if the young ones does not know this, what about the older ones, are they not orientated enough on how to handle the naira notes?
When you are even trying to let them know the significance of the Naira notes, some will be showing unconcerned, while some will be saying that, it does not concern them and how does a neat note add more value to their lives?
These are call of concern towards amplifying our dignity and identity as a country and as a citizen, but many fail to know and understand this.
Last year August, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on its Facebook page gave details on how the Naira notes are being abused and the punishment behind such abuse to the person caught in the act. Was it not some months later, that a cross-dresser known as Bobrisky arrested of spraying the Naira notes at a party.
We should all know that the Nigerian naira notes play a significant role in reflecting the country’s rich cultural diversity. The depictions of cultural symbols and historical figures on the notes serve as a means of promoting national identity and heritage. So why don’t we promote this our identity and heritage? Are we only expecting President Bola Tinubu or the State governors to do that for the country?
Don’t we know that we also have roles to play towards the dignity and honour of our country likewise?
Don’t we know that the way we present our country to other nations, is same way they oblige with us?
Maybe, there is a need for enough orientation on handling the Naira notes and stop the abuse.
The section 21 of the CBN Act of 2007, says “ A person who tampers with a Nigerian note, coin or any note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a minimum of six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or both “
What constitute an offence under this act?
Spraying, dancing or matching on any note issued by the Bank during social occasions, as well as stumping, engraving, mutilating, piercing, stapling, writing, tearing, decorating, soiling, squeezing or any other form of deliberate and wilful abuse of the Naira regardless of the value, volume, occasion or intent, shall constitute an abuse and shall be punishable under this act.
The act further says “It shall also be an offence punishable for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade the Naira notes, like the new notes or coins or any other note issued by the Bank”, probably by making this known, the offence and punishment behind it on our radio and television stations will definitely do a lot of good to curtail the abuse of Naira notes in our homes and societies.
‘Yanju Uwala is a writer, journalist, and youth advocate. He can be reached via: samsonadeyanjuuwala@gmail.com
