The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is facing a backlash on social media over its opposition to the spraying of naira notes at social events.
In a post on its official X page on Tuesday, the anti-corruption agency urged Nigerians to respect the currency, while announcing an upcoming discussion titled: “Spray money at parties and see yourself in prison,” scheduled for March 26, 2025.
Responding to the EFCC posts, X users highlighted what they consider as bias in the discharge of the core mandate of the agency.
Questioning the value of the naira, netizens said the EFCC should shift its focus from policing celebrations to tackling more significant issues like corruption and human rights.
In its post on X, the EFCC raised concerns about the practice of spraying naira notes at social events, stating that it undermines the currency’s dignity.
The EFCC emphasized that while spraying money may appear to be a fun activity, it promotes a culture of extravagance and disrespects the value of money.
The agency reminded citizens that this practice is against the law and encouraged celebrations that uphold class and integrity.
The post stated: “Spraying money at parties may seem fun, but it promotes a culture of extravagance and shows disrespect for the value of money. Moreover, it’s against our country’s laws! Let’s focus on celebrating with class and integrity.”
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An X user @ambalium criticized the discrepancies in enforcement by the EFCC, noting that when the poor engage in this practice, it is labeled a crime, while the elite face investigations with little consequence.
He asserted: “When the poor do it, it is a crime. When the elites do it, it is an endless investigation with no outcome.”
Another X user @StephenEzeikolo defended money spraying, arguing it has been a cultural practice for a long time and that the real issue for Nigeria is corruption, which needs to be addressed instead.
“With due respect, I would like to address this issue concerning the spraying of money. Firstly, spraying money at parties isn’t a way to promote extravagance or show disrespect for the value of money. This practice is a long-standing part of our culture.
“You should focus on addressing real problems, like corruption, which is the true issue in Nigeria. If corruption were curbed, we could see real transformation,” he said.
Also, @Saintpa37 stated that “selecting who to prosecute might seem fun, but it promotes a narrative of an unbalanced and biased system.”
Similarly, @KennyAwanlor added: “If the naira were really valued, former Governor Ganduje wouldn’t have accepted dollars; the same applies to our lawmakers who accepted dollars just to suspend Natasha Akpoti.”
Lastly, @The (Cursor8) remarked that “while it may be against our laws, claiming that spraying money at parties promotes a culture of extravagance is not accurate.
“The real culture should be respect for the rule of law, starting with respect for human rights! We need to start a culture of respect for human dignity first.”
