The Federal Government has issued a warning against the use of “money bouquets” ahead of Valentine’s Day, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lists the practice among acts considered an abuse of the naira.
In a public notice shared via its official social media platform, the apex bank described money bouquets — where banknotes are folded and arranged like flower petals to form a bouquet — as a violation of currency handling rules. The CBN grouped the trend with other prohibited practices such as spraying, squeezing, selling, and defacing naira notes.
The bank stressed that protecting the national currency is a civic responsibility and urged members of the public to report incidents of naira abuse. It also provided toll-free hotlines for reporting offenders.
Under the CBN Act, anyone found guilty of tampering with or abusing the naira faces a minimum punishment of six months imprisonment or a fine of at least ₦50,000, or both.
The advisory comes just days before Valentine’s Day celebrations, a period when money bouquets and similar cash-themed gifts are commonly exchanged. Authorities say enforcement efforts are being intensified nationwide to curb violations.
