On the liborous Oshoma outburst on certain ministers collecting bribes to bring investment into the country, By Tope Fasua

Dr. Tope Fasua (SA on Economic Affairs to the President OFVP) writes:

Paul Alaje has called to clarify his position that he doesn’t mean that the Tinubu govt is collecting bribes just for investments to come in. He said he meant some people may be demanding bribes and they don’t have to be govt officials.

I advised him that his clients should be guided as to who they talk to. Not just anyone. Anywhere in the world people are looking to make rent on such monies. People want to be shareholders of new companies coming in based on assisting them in one way or another. So let investors shoot through the NIPC and have their dealings well documented.

Anyone asking for bribes could be easily busted these days. Also, a serious investor can come straight to the President or Vice President’s office, cutting off sundry middlemen. Middlemen always snag things up. The current presidency is very businesslike and filled with patriots who want things to work rapidly for Nigeria.

In the VP office where I am, I have seen him tell several investors not to fall for anyone demanding anything from them. Nigeria is on the lookout for investment. No time for nonsense. We have discussed with investors directly and are facilitating several billions in real sector and SME investment inflows. We should stop believing the worst about our country and also refrain from errors of generalisation. Alajes’s experience does not represent all possible experiences.

Finally, let’s be careful about people just saying they have several $ billions sitting somewhere to be had cheaply. Just as we have Yahoo boys here, we’ve seen with P&ID, Ajaokuta, Mambila and others where Nigeria has been forced to cough out money to shady investors who promised heaven and earth but were not real. In our desperation for progress, we must be smart and circumspect and always protect the image and integrity of our nation.

Thank you.

Dr. Tope Fasua
Special Adviser, Economic Affairs, OFVP