Federal Government warns against money bouquet ahead of Valentine’s Day.
The Federal Government, acting through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has issued a fresh warning against the practice of creating and gifting “money bouquets” ahead of Valentine’s Day, saying the trend amounts to abuse of the naira and is punishable under existing currency laws. The advisory, shared by the CBN in an official notice, emphasises that folding, pinning, stapling or otherwise decorating naira notes into floral-like arrangements for gifts or displays damages the national currency and undermines its integrity. Under Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, anyone found guilty of tampering with or misusing legal tender can face a minimum six months imprisonment or a fine of at least ₦50,000, or both penalties, as the law treats such acts as currency abuse. Authorities reminded Nigerians that protecting the naira is a civic responsibility, and urged the public to report incidents of naira abuse to enforcement agencies as efforts to safeguard the country’s legal tender are reinforced ahead of the Valentine’s celebrations. Many Nigerians have traditionally adopted money bouquets as romantic gifts during occasions like Valentine’s Day, weddings and birthdays, but the CBN said this practice accelerates wear-and-tear on banknotes and increases the cost of currency management for the economy. The warning aims to discourage the harmful use of banknotes and encourage compliance with national financial regulations, as lovers and event planners are advised to choose lawful forms of expression that do not involve misuse of the naira.
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