As Nigerians groan over extreme hunger and scarcity of naira notes, Abba Bichi, the son of the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bichi, was captured in a video showering bundles of the new notes on actress and Senator Ned Nwoko’s wife, Regina Daniels.

He was seen spraying wraps of the new naira notes on Ms Daniels in the video believed to have been recorded at a nightclub in the nation’s capital, Abuja, an action that violates the policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria,  which prohibits the spraying of naira. 

The CBN Act 2007, section 21, sub-section 3 and 4, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or marching on the naira or any noteissued by the Bank (CBN) during social occasions or otherwise howsoever, shall constitute abuse and defacing of the naira or such note and shall be punishable under sub-section (1) of this section.”

Mr Bichi, known for flaunting riches on social media, has always been criticised by netizens over his public display of wealth, especially on Instagram, where he has more followers. 

His display of affluence has always been a public discussion, considering his father’s position as the head of the nation’s secret police. 

The latest comes amid complaints by some bank customers about the scarcity of naira notes at the counters, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Points of Sale (PoS), and Bureaux de Change (BDCs). Some Deposit Money Bank officials also claimed they were not getting an adequate supply of cash from the CBN during the festive period.

However, the apex bank claimed there was an adequate supply of the currency.

The scarcity of naira notes further compounds the suffering of Nigerians, who have since grappled with the effect of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies. 

This was evident in a video of Lagos Island residents shouting “We’re hungry” in the Yoruba language as the president’s convoy passed last Friday. 

The video was captured in amateur footage, with multiple SUVS, including security vans, speeding ahead and behind Mr Tinubu’s official car as onlookers shouted in angry reaction to the economic hardship.