Monday, September 15, 2025 - Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has raised alarm over the growing trend of bribes being paid in foreign currency, warning that the dollarisation of the Nigerian economy undermines the naira and fuels corruption.
Falana made the remarks on Sunday night, September 14 during
an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television. He argued
that the acceptance and promotion of the dollar over the naira, even by
government officials, was worsening the economic crisis and eroding confidence
in Nigeria’s legal tender.
“The president was announcing gifts to footballers in
dollars, not naira. It has to stop. We must promote the naira, not the dollar,”
he said.
He reminded Nigerians that it is unlawful to reject the naira
for transactions within the country: “As a matter of fact, it is a criminal
offence to reject the naira. We need to stop paying fees and buying properties
in dollars.”
Falana’s comments come amid rising concerns about the
depreciation of the naira and the increased use of dollars in real estate,
school fees, business contracts, and even illicit payments. He insisted that
stronger enforcement of existing laws and stricter regulation of foreign
currency use are necessary to restore the value of the national currency.
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