Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, has called on President Bola Tinubu to impose a ban on the importation of human hair.

In a statement made on X, Omokri suggested ways to improve the value of the Naira and accused Nigerians of being the main obstacle to the stability of the local currency.

The recent depreciation of the Naira, which experienced a significant decrease in value against the US dollar, prompted Omokri’s plea. Data from FMDQ revealed that the Naira reached an all-time low of N1,482.57 per US dollar on Tuesday, representing a 9% loss compared to the previous day.

Omokri, who previously served as a special assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, asserted that the condition of the Naira reflects the behavior of Nigerians. He criticized Nigerians for their preference for foreign airlines over domestic carriers for international travel.

Highlighting the large sums of money paid to foreign airlines by the Central Bank of Nigeria, Omokri emphasized that if Nigerians chose to fly Nigerian airlines like Air Peace, the money spent on foreign airlines would circulate within the country and strengthen the Naira.

He also pointed out the significant amount of money spent on importing human hair, suggesting that banning such imports would contribute to preserving foreign exchange reserves. Omokri argued that Nigerian women often purchase hair that is sourced from countries like India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia, and then marketed as Brazilian, European, or Peruvian hair.

Furthermore, he highlighted the disparity between spending on human hair and spending on books in Nigeria, emphasizing the need to prioritize educational resources over luxury goods.

Omokri concluded by stating that Nigerian imports that could be produced domestically are negatively impacting the Naira’s value. He urged Tinubu to take action and restrict the importation of human hair in order to support the Nigerian economy.