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Abuja, Jan. 23, 2024: For the umpteenth time, the Nigerians in
Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has issued out warning to Nigerians in the
Diaspora as well as groups to be wary of some unscrupulous groups
canvassing for business opportunities with it.
In an advisory message issued in Abuja by Abdur-Rahman Balogun,
Director of Media and Public Relations of the Commission said that this
is sequel to another group,
Optiva Capital Partners Limited claiming that is targeting $5bn with
the launch of a new product tagged Diaspora Investor Direct Investment,
asking Nigerians abroad to send monies to them directly for investment
purposes.
NIDCOM hereby warns Nigerians especially those in the diaspora to be
cautious in dealing with such groups as our office is inundated with
series of fraudulent activities of some of these groups, a number of
which are now subjects of investigations with the EFCC.
It is equally important to say here that this group is not known to the
Commission and that, it is only NIDCOM in line with the Act of the
Parliament (2017) and National Diaspora Policy of 2021 that has the
mandate to engage with the Nigerians in the Diaspora in relation to all
the services the group highlighted is providing for the Diaspora.
For the avoidance of doubt, there is the Nigeria Diaspora Investment
Summit (NDIS), Nigeria Diaspora Trust Fund (NDTF), Nigeria Diaspora
Housing Scheme, Diaspora Mortgage Scheme ,National Diaspora Day, and
Diaspora Focal Persons appointed by the State Governors to deal with
issues relating to the diaspora, among several others geared towards
National development.
NiDCOM has a register of diaspora groups in various parts of the world
promoting investments to Nigeria but this group, (Optiva Capital
Partners Limited) and its Chairman, Franklin Nechi, which recently
called an elaborate press conference a few days ago, is not one of them
and the product tagged Diaspora Investor Direct Investment (DIDI) is not
officially registered with the appropriate authorities and is unknown to
NIDCOM.
It must be pointed out here that even NIDCOM will not ask any Diaspora
groups or individuals to send money through it for any development
purposes, adding that this is a red flag and cautions Diaspora groups
and individuals to watch out for such organisations.
NIDCOM will continue to do all it can to protect Nigerians in the
diaspora from being victims of fraud and again calls on all Ministries,
Department, Agencies, groups and individuals, embassies etc to verify
any diaspora related activities with the Nigerians in Diaspora
Commission to avoid being scammed.
