EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has warned Nigerians against abusing the Naira, describing it as a symbol of sovereignty and a criminal offence.
He made this statement during a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme in Lagos.
Olukoyede expressed concern over the persistent abuse of the country’s currency at social events, particularly through spraying, mutilation, and stamping.
He said, “Nobody who works hard to earn money will go out and start throwing their hard-earned salary in the air.”
He emphasized that such practices are not part of the country’s culture, stating, “There is nothing cultural about destroying our national currency.”
The EFCC chairman highlighted the commission’s efforts to enforce the law against unlicensed foreign exchange dealers and currency abusers.
He mentioned the establishment of a Task Force on Dollarisation and Naira Abuse and collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Olukoyede disclosed that over N100 billion in recovered proceeds of crime had been redirected into social intervention projects.
He also mentioned the commission’s efforts to recover and restitute stolen assets, including repayment of fraud victims in the US, Spain, and Canada.
