CBN Issues Stern Valentine Warning on Naira Abuse

CBN Valentine Naira Abuse Warning cautions Nigerians against money bouquets, with jail terms or fines under the CBN Act

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja issued a stern warning to Nigerians ahead of Valentine’s Day, declaring that money bouquets and similar displays constitute naira abuse punishable under the law.

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The CBN Valentine Naira Abuse Warning was conveyed in a public awareness flier shared on the apex bank’s official X handle as part of efforts to curb currency mutilation during the festive period.

Valentine’s Day celebrations in Nigeria often feature decorative cash gifts, including money bouquets, where banknotes are folded into petal-like shapes and arranged as floral displays.

The Central Bank of Nigeria stated that such practices amount to tampering with the national currency.

“It is your civic duty to protect the naira. Report naira abuse today,” the Central Bank of Nigeria wrote in the advisory.

The apex bank listed money bouquets alongside spraying, squeezing, selling and defacing banknotes as offences under the CBN Act.

Under the law, any individual found guilty of abusing the naira faces a minimum of six months’ imprisonment or a fine of at least ₦50,000, or both.

The Central Bank of Nigeria urged citizens to express affection responsibly during the Valentine season and to avoid actions that compromise the integrity of the currency. Toll-free hotlines were also provided for reporting violations.

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The Valentine-focused advisory underscores a broader and intensifying campaign by the Central Bank of Nigeria and enforcement agencies to preserve the dignity of the naira amid growing public scrutiny over currency abuse at social events.