In a bid to ensure that the naira continues to further strengthen against the dollar, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has warned schools, hotels, supermarkets and others to desist from the habit of charging in dollars and other foreign currencies, services rendered in the country.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede made this known in the latest monthly edition of the commission’s monthly e-nagazine, released on Monday. The commission through its chairman, threatened to jail anyone found in the act of sabotaging the naira.
The EFCC boss warned that anyone caught receiving dollars or other foreign currencies for goods and services rendered within the country would be treated as a criminal in accordance with relevant Nigerian laws.
Olukoyede stated the resolve of the commission to go after schools, hotels, supermarkets and other businesses that are in the habit of transacting with the dollar instead of 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.