Event planners print notes for owambe spraying

The intelligence of Nigerians is never in doubt.

So, with biting cash scarcity and reiteration by Central Bank of Nigeria to prosecute Naira abusers, event planners in Lagos have invented a new way of life above the broken norm.

One of them is 247SL Events, a Lagos-based event management outfit that champions innovative ways to comply with the law while preserving the Nigerian culture of spraying naira notes in the typical Owambe.

Owambe is a Yoruba word that means “food is there or party is there”.

But in Nigerian, owambe means a lavish party full of outlandish outfits, an endless supply of food and drinks and of course, a display of wealth by splashing Naira.

On February 3, 31-year-old actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, popularly known as Simisola Gold, was arrested by the ICPC and EFCC for allegedly forging and inserting new Naira notes.

He was arrested after a video of him spraying and inserting a newly redesigned Naira note at a party surfaced online.

He was later granted bail of up to N5m.

money vouchers

With the new money voucher, guests at weddings, funerals or social and cultural events can buy the amount they want to ‘spray’ the celebrants and transfer the same amount to the agent’s account.

The agent, in this case, is an event planner, and the common denominations are N1000 and N500 notes. A picture of the celebration or event host is printed on the note.

A post on the 247SL Event Instagram page describes the idea as a new way to spray at parties.

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READ ALSO: Eight people you will meet in ‘Owambe’

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“We had this at the funeral reception for the burial of Kabiesi Alara’s father. This is a good way to stop abuse of naira at weddings

“Pls note, this is not money in any way; It is said to be event currency or party prop,” the post read.

PREMIUM TIMES reached out to several event planners, including 247SL Event, who shared their thoughts on the new method.

Nenna Ezenta, CEO of Box and Roses Surprises, said the new naira policy has given event planners another reason to be creative.

“We are Nigerians, and you cannot take the soul of the party away from us. You have to feel the vibe, so the idea of ​​fake currency to spray is very creative,” he said.

Another event planner, Ayobami Enabulele, said the CBN’s new cash policy has affected business in several ways.

Speaking to this newspaper, he said it affected his operations as moving from one location to another was difficult.

“We have to use ride-hailing services, which means more costs. Unfortunately, our patrons have to bear the cost. This is one of the direct effects of the lack of naira on our business,” he said.

He, however, said the introduction of money tokens to sprinkle was innovative although more still needs to be done to sensitize partygoers on how it works.

He said, “This is a very good innovation. The only drawback is to open people’s minds. Awareness should be created to detect fake and real money, so people will not cheat with naira notes.”

Legal implications

Giving a legal perspective to the new idea, Ayuba Giwa, a retired law professor from Delta State University, said the legal position is evident.

Mr. Giwa told this newspaper that only the CBN can issue valid tenders under the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 as amended.

“In general, only the CBN has the authority to issue valid tenders, so it will depend on what the printing is called. Forgery is an offence, but any organization can print tickets or tokens, which can be plastic or paper,” he said.

Authors of several books on banking law also give examples of roulette tables where tokens are used instead of real money.

“On that day, they used cash instead, but it was directly for the people from hell to enter and rob them, so they used tokens. However, they did not claim to be a legal tender,” he said.

He also noted that the new idea is a good development because abusing naira by spraying or trampling is not very good.

Currency regulation

On Thursday, February 2, the CBN vowed to prosecute the sellers and those who misused the notes at social events across the country.

A statement from the apex bank said the Naira is our legal tender and a symbol of national pride, urging Nigerians to respect and handle it with care.

The bank said it will work with security agencies to ensure that erring members of the public who misuse the new notes are caught and punished.

Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 states that “spraying, dancing or walking on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during any social event or in any other manner shall constitute abuse and destruction of the Naira or the note. and shall be punished according to law by fine or imprisonment or both.”

Section 21 (4) states that “It shall also be an offense under Sub-section (1) of this section for any person to sell, sell or dispose of Naira money, coins or other notes issued by the Bank.”