As thousands converged on Nnewi in southeast Nigeria to mark the funeral of Margaret Egwuoyibo Oragwa, the event soon transformed from a burial ceremony to a carnival. Music stars Davido, Flavour, Phyno and a host of others entertained guests with their hit songs.
However, unlike in the past, when wads of naira notes were thrown into the air to celebrate, dollar bills dominated the dance floor this time around.
Oragwa’s son, the well-known entrepreneur Cletus Oragwa, could be seen in viral videos throwing $100 bills at Davido. In subsequent videos, Cletus, who goes by the nickname Zenco, is seen dancing as his friends put $100 bills on his head.
In June, there was a similar dollar rain when Davido married his sweetheart, Chioma, at a lavish wedding in Lagos attended by six governors, top CEOs, scores of entertainers and other dignitaries.
“It has become common for celebrants to tell their guests to only throw dollars at them instead of naira,” says Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, a social media influencer and public relations expert.
This is despite the limited inflow of forex to the country amid the ongoing economic crisis.
Naira vs. dollar problems
Although the naira still features at celebrations, it is no longer “thrown around” but handed over to celebrants in bundles. The ‘crazy rich’, however, opt for throwing dollars instead. This change in behaviour can be traced to a renewed crackdown on naira abuse by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-corruption watchdog.
Nigerian law forbids the defacing, mutilation or throwing around of the naira, known as “spraying”. According to Section 21 of the Act, the Central Bank of Nigeria will impose a fine of N50,000 ($30), six months in prison, or both, if a person is found guilty of naira abuse.
For years the law only existed on paper and was hardly ever enforced. However, this changed in April 2024 when transgender social media influencer Bobrisky was prosecuted and jailed in Lagos for abuse of the naira.
“The act of mutilating the naira notes has become a menace, which has continued to damage the country’s image. Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop. This will serve as a deterrent to others,” said Justice Abimbola Awogboro in his judgment.
Weeks later, socialite Pascal Okechukwu, who goes by the name Cubana Chief Priest, was also prosecuted for “spraying naira” but escaped jail after paying a hefty fine.
This forced the rich to change their ways, but not in a manner that the authorities imagined.
“Spraying of money at parties is a cultural issue. It is a reflection of who we are and how we express love at parties,” says Iwuchukwu, who is also the CEO of Visage Media. He tells The Africa Report that the practice has become prevalent in the southeast and has led to unhealthy competition among peers which forces some to take to crime.
“It encourages the get-rich-quick syndrome and fuels crime. The government cannot crack down on it because their relatives are also culprits,” he says, adding that using dollars has become more common to avoid arrest.
Although the naira still features at celebrations, it is no longer “thrown around” but handed over to celebrants in bundles. The ‘crazy rich’, however, opt for throwing dollars instead. This change in behaviour can be traced to a renewed crackdown on naira abuse by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-corruption watchdog.
Nigerian law forbids the defacing, mutilation or throwing around of the naira, known as “spraying”. According to Section 21 of the Act, the Central Bank of Nigeria will impose a fine of N50,000 ($30), six months in prison, or both, if a person is found guilty of naira abuse.
For years the law only existed on paper and was hardly ever enforced. However, this changed in April 2024 when transgender social media influencer Bobrisky was prosecuted and jailed in Lagos for abuse of the naira.
“The act of mutilating the naira notes has become a menace, which has continued to damage the country’s image. Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop. This will serve as a deterrent to others,” said Justice Abimbola Awogboro in his judgment.
Weeks later, socialite Pascal Okechukwu, who goes by the name Cubana Chief Priest, was also prosecuted for “spraying naira” but escaped jail after paying a hefty fine.
This forced the rich to change their ways, but not in a manner that the authorities imagined.
“Spraying of money at parties is a cultural issue. It is a reflection of who we are and how we express love at parties,” says Iwuchukwu, who is also the CEO of Visage Media. He tells The Africa Report that the practice has become prevalent in the southeast and has led to unhealthy competition among peers which forces some to take to crime.
“It encourages the get-rich-quick syndrome and fuels crime. The government cannot crack down on it because their relatives are also culprits,” he says, adding that using dollars has become more common to avoid arrest.
Legal barrier to stop dollar rain
However, dollars, pounds and euros being sprayed instead of the naira presents a legal dilemma for the authorities and defeats the purpose of the law, says EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale.
“The EFCC is opposed to the culture of impunity but unfortunately it is the naira that is specifically stated in the law. So, the commission will have to devise a means of stopping this disobedience by those circumventing the law. We will look into it,” he tells The Africa Report.
Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist Inibehe Effiong says there is little the government can do. “Spraying dollars and pounds cannot be criminalised in Nigeria because they are not legal tender,” he says.
“The EFCC are selective in administering justice. Politicians still spray naira and the EFCC looks the other way. Even the president’s relatives have been seen spraying money without consequence.”
However, dollars, pounds and euros being sprayed instead of the naira presents a legal dilemma for the authorities and defeats the purpose of the law, says EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale.
“The EFCC is opposed to the culture of impunity but unfortunately it is the naira that is specifically stated in the law. So, the commission will have to devise a means of stopping this disobedience by those circumventing the law. We will look into it,” he tells The Africa Report.
Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist Inibehe Effiong says there is little the government can do. “Spraying dollars and pounds cannot be criminalised in Nigeria because they are not legal tender,” he says.
“The EFCC are selective in administering justice. Politicians still spray naira and the EFCC looks the other way. Even the president’s relatives have been seen spraying money without consequence.”
