Damaged Naira Notes and the Ailing Nigerian Economy

Is this crumpled paper fit for the market or the waste basket/dustbin?

The world economy is in a bad shape. Who agrees with me? The Nigerian economy is ailing. Who thinks this is true? I think both assertions are true. The world is ailing and so is the rest of us with Nigeria not being an exception. I'm not an economist enough to know or manipulate the events of the world. But I'm concerned enough to write this blog post. The major problem with the Nigerian economy is the Nigerian people. Let me say that again, the major problem with the Nigerian economy is the Nigerian people.

On Sunday, I was very cross with a girl in the neighbourhood and how she treated the naira. I frequented a village shop to buy convenience. Each time I hand a naira note to her, she would crumple it thus:

That's how she would crumple a naira note no matter the denomination or age. I have given several notes some of them in good condition even mint/chassis or straight from the bank and she would still leave it crumpled. She's checking for counterfeit. Who taught her to do that check? Is that the only way to check for fake notes? Sometimes, she would note to another adult to check for her and would still crumple the Naira. But why? I was so crossed on Sunday that it took great discipline for me to walk away from the shop and buy ware some place else, promising to never return to that shop to make another purchase. She's a little girl but her attitude is so unwanted that it's evil to keep such arrogance. Anyway, my rant is that crumpled money weakens the naira note no matter how new it used to be. If we crumple all the notes in circulation, we would soon be out of currency. The Central Bank of Nigeria doesn't print money because we need them to do so. All the bad money taken out of the economy and burnt to ashes will never return. That's why your bag of rice is N20, 000 today and N25, 000 next week. Next year, the naira is going to be N1, 000 against the dollar and it's because all your money has been damaged and burnt. This is my stupid thought as a Nigerian woman without a husband and children. Nwata na-ata akara na-ata ego nne ya. 

Imagine that every Nigeria has to crumple every naira note this way. What becomes of the Nigerian economy?

 It crumples and crumbles; wouldn't you think so?

Why do Nigerians crumple the naira note? Like I said the first reason is to check for counterfeit notes. Other reasons include,

1. Sabotage: Nigerians are saboteur. They don't like to uphold the decency of their dear country. Teaching goes into one ear and leaves the other, LITERALLY! Nothing is ever learnt in this country. Not even the introduction of Civic Education would save this country. They love to show off their wealth. So, who cares? Why do they crumple the naira note and expect the economy to stand the test of time? Ejikwa m ogu.
2. Mental illness: Yes, mental illness is what I call crumpling the naira note. Many Nigerians are mad but would never visit a mental health facility.
3. Pagan value: Every Nigerian comes from one pagan heritage or another. I'm not sure of any pagan value to crumpling paper money. Maybe witches and wizards in your village are after your money and income and this would be a retarded way to deter them. Somebody thinks it's his way of making ends meet? Shame on you! India magic, abracadabra or whatever excuse is no reason for this insult to our economy. If this is for the osu/umeh people of Igboland maybe they need a different currency than the rest of the society. And it's on an individual basis. Go where your lifestyle takes you. We don't need culture without respect for others and responsibility.
   
4. Americanism: This is what I call wanting to destroy the naira in favour of the dollar or European currency. It's part of sabotage but this time it's in favour of a rival currency. Let foreigners who can't stand our dirty naira notes return their asses to their home countries. Haba! O biara be onye abiagbula ya. O lawa mkpumkpu afula ya n'azu.
   

Crumbled N1000 note

So? What do we do to little girls and their sponsors who crumple the naira note and destroy our collective heritage, even the Nigerian economy?