In short
Yes, if you spray naira notes. Under Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007, spraying naira notes at social occasions counts as abuse of the naira, punishable by imprisonment for at least six months, a fine of at least ₦50,000, or both. Spraying money digitally is different: no banknotes are involved, because the money moves between verified wallets as an electronic transfer.
What the law says
Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007 protects the naira from abuse. Subsection 3 says that spraying, dancing or marching on naira notes at social occasions, or otherwise, is an abuse and defacing of the currency, punishable by a fine, imprisonment or both.
The Central Bank of Nigeria sets out the penalty for naira abuse as imprisonment for not less than six months, a fine of not less than ₦50,000, or both. The same section also covers other kinds of naira abuse:
- spraying naira notes at weddings, birthdays and other parties
- dancing or stepping on naira notes
- selling, hawking or trading in naira notes (for example, the crisp new notes sold outside party venues)
- writing on, stapling, squeezing or otherwise defacing notes
Is the law enforced?
For years the rule was rarely applied at parties, but that changed in 2024, when people were prosecuted and jailed after videos of them spraying naira at events circulated online. The CBN has also run public campaigns against naira abuse, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and prosecuted people for it.
If you spray cash at a party, you're relying on nobody reporting it, and on no video of it ending up online.
Why the law exists
Notes that are thrown, stepped on, folded and stapled wear out quickly, and replacing damaged currency costs the country money. The law is also about respect for the national currency: the naira carries national symbols, and the CBN treats damaging it as an offence.
Does the law apply to digital spraying?
Section 21 is about naira banknotes and coins. When you spray digitally there's nothing physical to throw, step on or damage: the money moves from your wallet to the celebrant's wallet as an electronic payment, the same way a bank transfer does.
On Nawó every spray is a transfer between identity-verified wallets, processed through licensed payment infrastructure, and recorded with who sent it, who received it and when. The celebrant gets every naira, and nobody handles cash. See how digital money spraying works.
How to keep the tradition without breaking the law
- The celebrant (or the venue) sets up the event on Nawó and puts the event's QR code at the entrance, on tables or on screen.
- Guests scan the QR code. They can spray in the Nawó app, or straight from their phone's browser with no download.
- Pick who you're spraying, choose the denomination and amount, and swipe. The notes fall on screen and the money lands in the celebrant's wallet instantly.
- The celebrant withdraws to their bank account whenever they like.
You still get the moment: the dance floor, the MC calling names, the notes raining down, now on screen and on a live leaderboard. Planning a wedding? Read how to spray money at a Nigerian wedding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the punishment for spraying money in Nigeria?
Under Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007, naira abuse, including spraying naira notes at social occasions, is punishable by imprisonment for at least six months, a fine of at least ₦50,000, or both.
Can I be arrested for spraying money at a wedding?
Yes. Spraying naira notes is an offence wherever it happens, including weddings. People have been prosecuted after videos of them spraying cash at events spread online.
Is it legal to spray money digitally in Nigeria?
Yes. The law on spraying is about naira banknotes. Digital spraying moves money electronically between verified wallets, so no notes are sprayed, stepped on or damaged.
Is selling new naira notes at parties legal?
No. Selling, hawking or trading in naira notes is also naira abuse under Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007.
Sources
- Central Bank of Nigeria: Banknote handling practices
- Channels TV: CBN to prosecute naira sellers, abusers (2023)
- BBC News: Spraying naira, Nigeria's wedding dilemma (2024)
This guide is general information, not legal advice.
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