The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned schools, supermarkets, hotels, and businesses not to charge for services in the country in dollars or other foreign currencies.
In the latest edition of the EFCC’s monthly e-magazine, which was released on Monday, Chairman Ola Olukoyede threatened to imprison anyone discovered to be dollarising the economy.
The EFCC chief warned that anyone caught accepting dollars for services or goods would face criminal charges under Nigerian law.
He warned that the commission would target schools, supermarkets, hotels, real estate developers, and business operators who transacted in dollar rather than naira.
“We have also started securing convictions. Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not, you will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also effected some arrests,” he said