Senate Bill to Ban Use of Foreign Currencies in Nigeria Passes First Reading

A bill aimed at banning the use of foreign currencies in Nigeria has passed its first reading in the Senate. The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, No. 7, to Prohibit the Use of Foreign Currencies for Remuneration and Other Related Matters,” was introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation. The proposed legislation seeks to mandate that all payments, including salaries and other transactions, be conducted using the local currency, the naira. Senator Nwoko argued that the widespread use of foreign currencies in Nigeria undermines the naira’s value and exacerbates the country’s economic challenges. He also described the reliance on currencies such as the Dollar and Pound Sterling as a colonial legacy that continues to hinder Nigeria’s economic independence.