giving the extent of fruad and deception in nigeria, i as a nigerian will feel very uncomfotable doing business with a fellow nigerian. I know alot of nigerians will be angered by this and maybe disappointed.But lets face the fact, the rate at which most nigerians are wanting to become a millionaire regardless of who they screw is unbelievable.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,

one day I gave some people in Naija money to run business.
They where not only eating the money but even selling the office-phones.
These people were not just anybody but part of the family!

So what can I say

absolutely! there are good people in nigeria still. That's why i was very careful in choosing my words. But it really comes down to who would you trust with your hard earned money?

Yes i will and i am. Its like anything, anybody can let you down Nigerian or not. contrary to what you think many Nigerians are straight hard working people. YOu just pray you don't get stung by anyone. I feel what Ruescho said about family. It's often a bad idea to involve family in business, very rarely it works, it only works when the business is long standing and family members are brought on boards slowly. Otherwise they the best people to take the piss out of you.

Nothing wrong with doing business with a Nigerian . Just find and pray for a good and honest person. My friend is the best really i trust that woman with many things thats why we work well together. Business partnership is like a marriage, you better be compatible and both not grate on each other, lest it will never work. You both have to have same vision , and motivate each other. Dont know about Men but women i find in business together especially when they are friends is a good partnership

Hey! there are many, many honest Nigerians you can do business with, but they fall into the minority.

I am in Nigeria and i can at least vouch for myself

ruescho:

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,

one day I gave some people in Naija money to run business.
They where not only eating the money but even selling the office-phones.
These people were not just anybody but part of the family!

So what can I say

This have got to be the most hilarious posting i have ever read.
So if you cannot trust even your own, then dont be offended when strangers say "Nigeria------ no way"

Sure!!! But u gotta be sure the person can handle it. Even from naija to naija in the country. Even whites rip ppl. I've dealt with americanss, indians etc over the internet. Though more ppl form Pakistan will rip u off. I sent $700 to a guy in Philiphines to develop a small software he just disappeared. And there was a time I sent $300 to an American who have with me for over a year. Suddenly ran away with 300bucks and came back with stories.

Its fuckin everywhere. Try russians u get screwed for ever!!! There are many scams being done by russians that ppl think its nigerian.

ha. i have been reading you. seem you only trust women.

Hmmmmmmm, that is a good posting. Whom to trust again. Just that the bad one are far more than the good one, they will promise you heaven and heart before you send goods to them, send it and immediately story started. Not only Nigerian, but the world, it is not a better place again, but at least not everybody are bad, there are still good people out there, just pray that you dont end up biting your finger at the end of the day. At least you alone cannot do it, you will still involve people

May I ask this one question? Are all Americans or Britons honest ?
Same applys here

@
didisky
ofcourse not.

My answer?

Yes times20,
'ven though i agree there are bad eggs, it shouldnt stop one from doing legitimate business.
If the business is a WIN-WIN business, i dont see anything wrong.
In these days, nationality, age, sex and color shouldn't be a barrier to legal biz.
Therez no need to be scarred,

No one is saying there aren't fraudsters in other countries, but the argument is the depth at which scams have eaten into us. Every cyber cafe, at anytime of the day is filled with people looking for someone to scam. About two months ago, a friend of mine who i went to high school with; scamed an American and wanted the money transfered to my checking account because the guy would not seal the deal except he (my friend) has a U.S account number. What would you do if you were in my position, considering that you have a legitimate job?

To allow this "friend" to use your account, would be participating in the scam.
Therefore you would immediately became an accomplice in an illegal act.

The best course of action would be to deny his request.
Good and honest people do not knowingly participate in bad deeds.

As a project manager myself, I Dont fu**cking trust, get a lawyer, make them sign stuff, have weekly review on how things are going. Get diverse people into your team. These things help reduce chance for fraud. Make sure that everyone is aware of what is going on. Invite financial firms in nigeria for bid on your budget handling and make sure that the financial firm you are hiring have diverse employee. Did I say diverse employee?? Nigeria is still a long way to stop seeing Igbos as Igbos or yorubas as yourubas. This is something that will go away if a team is diverse.

Have weekly meeting with whoever you are giving your money. Atleast until 2 weeks into the project. then measure progression of the project. Keep tract of the progression and make sure that its all meant. When i mean progression, I am refeering to something like work output, when they come to the office, their approaches in the project.

The last but not the least, dont give your money to individuals, hire a firm to pay them when work is completed on a weekly bases. that small amount you pay to the firm to pay the employee is worth it instead of loosing. that is how most human resources operate right now,

Again the HR resource you are hiring to pay the people must be very diverse. If possible get foreigners on the team. The more diverse it is, the more likley to fraud will be reduced, get igobs, hausas, yorubas, efik, ibibo, indians and even white people,


This is one solution to it

yes i would do business with my people. but first will have a laywer involved , papers will be signed , and like always i would talk to God first.

p.s others besides nigerians cant be trusted. its just sad that we make the bigger percentage.

@Oke amu

Thats the way to go brother. Nothing like trust in business. just put enuff checks and balances, and create a win win situation, (theres something for everyone). But if ever u get screwed, then u didnt look well and kind of deserve to get screwed so u learn ur lessons.

well if u want to go into any business the major thing there is to be vigilant and pls make sure u are available for ur business

I dey crace?

As a total foreigner to Nigeria, I have often been advised against Nigerians, my exposure to them has been selubrious to say the least, running drug/sex/counterfeit rings in the US/Europe and UK.

However, as some people have pointed out, you cannot actually trust very many people these days, they all seem to be in it for what they can get out of you.

I have had the same experience with eastern europeans as above, I wouldnt take it so hard on yourselves. It hardly seen as endemic of the breed.

I'm hoping to visit Nigeria during the course of the year on business and will update you on my experiences.

I think personally that if you are naive and un-worldy-wise, you will get 'got' where ever you are, whoever you are.


Happy New Year by the way!!

as for me i can,t even make friend with naija people let alone bloody business.beta run all of una

Believe it or not u can't do without trust in any relationship - Business, Marital, etc. Just pray to God to rebuke the devourer 4 u. There are good n bad pple everywhere. Internet scam n fraud is not peculiar to 9ja. We have plenty good guys here in 9ja. If u need convinction, take a risk, give me a try! Lets c how it goes. One love.

afrikangal:

as for me i can,t even make friend with naija people let alone bloody business.beta run all of una

.
come on!it cant b that bad,what do you mean u cant make friends with naija people?are you nigerian?are nigerians lepers?as akamihe has said theyr are good n bad people everywhere and fraud is not peculiar to naija,we are just the scapegoat/whipn boys now.there are still some legitimate nigerian businessmen/women allover,that would rather die than have thier names tarnished,all u gotta do is shine ur eyes,look b4 u leap.even ur own brother/sister can play a fast one on you,so its all a risk,trust is built/earned, a step at a time.
@akamihe;nice words,hope we dont have to issue a caveat on you

@boyalinco "@akamihe;nice words,hope we don't have to issue a caveat on you" It's not fare but then no sweat, u r entitled to ur personal opinion. We have very good guys here in 9ja 4real!

common never said u werent good and i do know there are good guys in naija,was just messn with you

It depends on the person involved. Make sure you know the person very well and also that they are credible enough b/4 you do business with them. Be SMART always.

For where?

akamihe:

Believe it or not u can't do without trust in any relationship - Business, Marital, etc. Just pray to God to rebuke the devourer for you. There are good n bad people everywhere. Internet scam n fraud is not peculiar to Nigeria. We have plenty good guys here in Nigeria. If u need convinction, take a risk, give me a try! Lets c how it goes. One love.

Abeg let us hear word. The truth is that God is tired of Nigeria!!
Generally speaking, the average Nigerian doesnt even KNOW what is right or wrong anymore. Our values are screwed up so badly that I even suspect most Nigerians are now born with a fraudulent gene - passed off to their offsprings.

Unless I know the Nigerian from belle, or they have established good values (especially from a values-based society), I will not touch a Nigerian 'business person' with a 6-foot pole!

And to the person that mentioned getting a lawyer - abeg no make me laugh!
What can a lawyer do for you in a lawless society? Please save your money!