Despite Katsina state being one of the poorest states in Nigeria, Fatima Dikko-Radda, wife of the Katsina governor, was seen spraying wads of dollars at a party over the weekend.
A video seen by Peoples Gazette showed Mrs Dikko-Radda dancing and spraying dollar notes as a musician sang her praises.
“Fatima Dikko, Fati-Radda,” the Hausa musician sang as the first lady and her friends lavishly sprayed dollars at the party.
The Gazette learned the video was recorded on Saturday at Mrs Dikko-Radda’s sister’s wedding in Katsina.
A recent clampdown on naira abuse at parties and other gatherings by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly forced elites like Mrs Dikko-Radda to adopt foreign currency for their display of wealth.
Mrs Dikko-Radda’s dollar-spraying amid severe economic hardships in the country, particularly in Katsina—one of the poorest states in Nigeria—highlights the insensitivity of the Nigerian ruling class.
Katsina, where Mrs Dikko-Radda went on a dollar-spraying spree, also has one of the highest populations of out-of-school children in Nigeria, with over 500,000 children out of school.
Additionally, Katsina has been a hotbed of banditry in recent years. Bandits in different coordinated attacks have raided schools and kidnapped students in their hundreds.