Use Dollars For Local Transactions & Risk Going To Jail – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria on
Tuesday raised concerns over the increasing use of foreign currencies as a
medium of exchange in the country and warned that persons caught in the illegal
act risked a six-month jail term upon conviction.

The central bank said in a
statement that some individuals and corporate bodies had been using foreign
currencies, especially the United States dollar, to price some of their
products and services, and were also using same as a medium of exchange.

The development, the bank said,
was against the provisions of the CBN Act, 2007, and asked members of the
public to report anyone caught transaction business in the country in foreign
currencies to it or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The statement issued by the
Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Ibrahim Muazu, read, “The
attention of the bank has been drawn to the increasing use of foreign currencies
in the domestic economy as a medium of payment for goods and services by
individuals and corporates.

“It has also been observed that
some institutions price their goods and services in foreign currencies and
demand payment in foreign currencies rather than the domestic currency (the
naira), which is the legal tender in Nigeria.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the
attention of the general public is hereby drawn to the provision of the CBN Act
of 2007, which states inter-alia that ‘the currency notes issued by the bank
shall be legal tender in Nigeria…for the payment of any amount.’”

It added, “Furthermore, the Act
stipulates that any person(s) who contravenes this provision is guilty of an
offence and shall be liable on conviction to a prescribed fine or six months
imprisonment.

“This prohibition, however, is
without prejudice to foreigners, visitors and tourists who are encouraged to
continue to use their cards for payments or exchange their foreign currencies
for the local currency at any of the authorised dealers’ outposts.

“The general public is hereby
advised to report any contravention of the provision of this Act to the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the CBN for appropriate action.”

Punch