The Directorate of State Services, DSS, has warned members of the public, especially the youth, to stay away from showing off material wealth.
The DSS said this will keep them off the target of the violent criminal elements, especially armed robbers and kidnappers.
The security agency, in a statement, said the youth are fond of showing off beautiful cars, and mansions, and money to reveal that they have “blown” (made it).
The DSS said some of the youth will produce videos of themselves spraying money at events and ceremonies and circulate them on social media.
The agency also revealed that some of the youth do ask Nigerians to forward their account details to receive money.
The statement by the DSS partly reads: ”Even if the wealth flaunter adequately secures himself or herself, what about their loved ones who are put at risk?
”We advise anyone who feels he or she has arrived materially to apply common sense. They should save for the rainy day which is sure to come. They should acquire financial education and invest wisely to secure their future. They should borrow a leaf from accomplished, genuinely wealthy industrialists like Aliko Dangote, Cosmas Maduka, Folorunsho Alakija and others who live humble lifestyles despite their enormous wealth.
”It is unfortunate that our law enforcement agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; the federal and state tax agencies and others, are not doing enough to clamp down on people who display wealth, verify their sources and tax them appropriately.
”These agencies must wake up and act. Adequate taxation and moderation of the excesses of citizens are parts of the functions of governance. These wealth advertisers portray the moral rot in society. They unwittingly send the wrong signals, especially to fellow youth to pursue material wealth by all means, thus worsening the crime rates in society.
”Those who have actually made it and want to benefit the less privileged ones should emulate singer, David Adeleke (Davido), who once raised N200 million and added N50 million from his pocket which he donated to orphanages around the country.
Let there be sanity. ”