EFCC Launches Crackdown on Money Spraying at Nigerian Events

Reporting by Joseph Okafor and Rita Uzuh for SpringNewsNG

Lagos, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a renewed crackdown on the practice of ‘spraying’ naira notes at social events, citing the legal ban on currency abuse under Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

Several high-profile arrests have been made in Lagos and Abuja in recent weeks, targeting event hosts and guests caught on video throwing or stepping on naira notes. The EFCC warns that offenders could face up to six months imprisonment or a fine.

The crackdown has sparked heated public debate. While some Nigerians support the move as necessary to preserve the integrity of the naira, others view it as an overreach that criminalizes cultural practices.

“This law has been in place since 2007, but it’s only now being enforced,” said Lagos-based legal analyst Ade Adebayo. “The challenge is balancing cultural norms with legal compliance.”