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In a move to curb the indiscriminate abuse of the national currency at social events, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has reached out to Afrobeat musicians, urging them to join hands in preserving the integrity of the Naira.
The agency’s Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a etter addressed to both the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FUMAN) and the Association of Juju Musicians of Nigeria (AJUMN), condemned the widespread practice of spraying Naira notes during social gatherings which he said contravenes the provision of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007
A press statement made available to our newsroom informed that Director General of NOA highlighted the consequences, including fines, imprisonment, or both, for anyone caught engaging in the spraying, dancing, or stepping on the Naira during social occasions.
The statement signed by the Deputy Director Press, Paul Odenyi averred that the NOA seeks the collaboration of these musicians’ groups to raise awareness among their members about the legal implications of such actions. The agency proposes the implementation of new rules within the organizations to discourage currency spraying and urges musicians to incorporate messages against the abuse of national symbols into their lyrics.
Mallam Issa-Onilu reminded the groups of NOA’s statutory role as the custodian of national symbols, emphasizing the mandate to promote and preserve their integrity. He encouraged the musicians to embrace change, stating that correcting these wrongs would contribute to the nation’s journey towards greatness.
The Director-General clarified that while monetary appreciations during social events are not illegal, the act of spraying and stepping on the Naira is strictly prohibited and punishable under the law.
Recall that Olu of Owode Egba in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun state, Oba Kolawole Sowemimo had in a viral video, had knitted N1000 notes in form of a long rope of naira and sprayed it on the popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde while celebrating his wife’s birthday anniversary recently.
The action had generated outrage on social media with many Nigerians condemning the monarch’s action while the federal government through the National Orientation Agency (NOA) wrote a letter to the monarch, threatening him a jail term with his action.