AGAIN, NIDCOM WARNS NIGERIANS ABROAD AGAINST DUBIOUS GROUPS SOLICITING FOR DIASPORA INVESTMENTS
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The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has again cautioned Nigerians living abroad and groups to be careful of some fraudulent organizations canvassing for business possibilities.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media and Public Relations of the Commission, stated in an advisory message released in Abuja that this is a follow-up to another group, Optiva Capital Partners Limited, which claims to be aiming for $5 billion with the launch of a new product called Diaspora Investor Direct Investment, requesting Nigerians living overseas to send money to them directly for investment purposes.
“For the umpteenth time, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has issued a warning to Nigerians in the Diaspora as well as groups to be wary of some unscrupulous groups canvassing for business opportunities with it.
NIDCOM therefore issues a warning to Nigerians, particularly those living abroad, to exercise caution when interacting with these groups, adding that the commission’s office has been bombarded with reports of various fraudulent operations by some of these groups, several of which are currently the focus of EFCC investigations.
“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.
Furthermore, the statement equally noted that the Commission is unaware of this group and that, in accordance with the National Diaspora Policy of 2021 and the Act of the Parliament of 2017, only NIDCOM is authorized to interact with Nigerians residing abroad in regards to all of the services the aforementioned group is offering.
“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 Parliament (2017) and the 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.
The statement further added, “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 cautioning Diaspora groups and individuals to watch out for such organizations.
“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, departments, agencies, groups, individuals, embassies, etc. to verify any diaspora-related activities with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to avoid being scammed, it added.”
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