Recently, media outlets and social media platforms were filled with reports of a court in Kano sentencing prominent local figures — the popular Hausa musician Hamisu Breaker and TikTok influencer Al-Amin G-Fresh — for the offense of spraying money at social events. This act violated the law which prohibited spraying money during gatherings and celebrations.
A Federal High Court in Lagos, last year sentenced social media personality Bobrisky for a similar offence to a six-month prison term.
The CBN officially banned the act of spraying money as part of its measures to protect the dignity of the Nigerian currency.
On August 29, 2025, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) launched a nationwide campaign to educate Nigerians on respecting national symbols. This two-week campaign was conducted across all 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, and all 774 local government areas in the country.
The campaign focused on raising awareness about the value of national symbols and encouraging good national values. It educated people about the importance of respecting the national flag, national anthem, the dignity of the Nigerian currency, and other national symbols as pillars of unity and social progress.
Respecting the currency, the flag, and the anthem holds enormous significance for every country in the world. Every sovereign nation has unique symbols that distinguish it, and it is the great duty of every country to respect the symbols of other nations.
A nation is the foundation of life, and national symbols represent its identity, foster unity, patriotism, and societal progress. Nigeria, a country rich in diverse cultures, languages, and religions, must always respect its national symbols to ensure peace, strengthen unity, and inspire patriotism among its citizens.
Respecting national symbols encourages positive behaviors like professionalism, integrity, and trust in daily interactions. Respect for the flag and singing the national anthem with enthusiasm during celebrations and public gatherings strengthens unity and social cohesion, regardless of Nigeria’s diversity.
It is crucial for Nigerians to cooperate with NOA to ensure the campaign succeeds and reaches all parts of the country, raising the nation’s profile. Wherever the Nigerian anthem is heard or the flag seen, respect and honor should follow — much like what is witnessed in the United States, where the flag and cultural heritage are upheld with pride.
Educational programs should be established in schools and public forums to teach youth and the community about the importance of respecting national symbols. Governments and relevant agencies must enact strict laws to prevent misuse or disrespect toward the Naira, the flag, the anthem, or other symbols, with severe penalties for violators, as we have seen in high-profile cases followed by social media.
Although there are allegations that enforcement sometimes targets scapegoats while influential individuals often evade scrutiny, the law must be applied equally to all for meaningful change.
It is also important to ensure national symbols like the flag and anthem are displayed prominently in public places, markets, schools, and offices. Flags should be distributed to students, workers, drivers, and other Nigerians to spread this message widely. Additionally, filmmakers, musicians, sports figures, and media outlets should incorporate government policies that promote respect for national symbols in their productions and broadcasts to reach diverse audiences in Nigeria’s many languages.
Respect for national symbols is not limited to raising the flag or singing the anthem — it encompasses patriotism, preserving dignity and history, and contributing to building a strong Nigeria that future generations will proudly inherit.
