‘Gujarat investors should do business through embassy or NIPC to avoid scams’

“Please disregard any contracts being awarded by the Nigerian government through agents or individuals. That’s not how the government in Nigeria operates. We publish a bi-weekly magazine,which contains the detailed procedure of awarding work contracts,” said Ibrahim Usman

Gafai,representing High Commissioner of Nigeria in India.

He further clarified that emails for jobs,social sector funding and lotteries should be avoided.

“Lot of emails related to lotteries,jobs and funding for social causes under the name of Nigerian government are under circulation. Please disregard them,” clarified Gafai.

“Whatever you do please take the suggestion from the Nigerian embassy in India. They will be able to tell you whether it is genuine or not,” Gafai added.

Several Gujarat entrepreneurs have lost their invested money in Nigerian scams past few years.

One of the most reported cases was of Founder and Managing trustee of the Consumer Education Research Centre (CERC) Manu Shah,who got an offer in an email from Nigeria that he was eligible to claim a property left behind by one Justine Collins.

However to process the claim,he had to invest about 1,00,000 dollars.

Manubhai paid around Rs 32 lakh from CERC to get the property.

Later,it was found that it was a fake deal. In order to avoid such scams,the Nigerian government officials have advised the entrepreneurs in Gujarat to go through NIPC or the embassy.

Sheriff said the Nigerian economy is expanding and Borno is the best place to invest as it gives easy connectivity to three different markets.

“There is no problem of space there. We will give the land free of cost for those planning to invest in Borno. Also,a holiday up to 10 years,” Sheriff said.

The Nigerian delegation was a part of NIPC-CII Third India Business & Investment Forum (NIBIF 2010).