The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has warned Nigerians living abroad about a group called Optiva Capital Partners Limited, which is soliciting investments through a programme called Diaspora Investor Direct Investment (DIDI).
This group is allegedly seeking $5 billion in investments through a new product called “Diaspora Investor Direct Investment (DIDI)” and asking Nigerians abroad to send money to them directly for investment purposes.
NIDCOM, in a statement by its spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disclosed on Tuesday that it is not familiar with Optiva Capital Partners Limited or its chairman, Franklin Nechi, noting that the DIDI programme is also not registered with relevant authorities and is unknown to NIDCOM.
“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,” Balogun said.
NIDCOM stated that it is the only agency mandated by the Act of Parliament (2017) and the National Diaspora Policy of 2021 to engage with the Nigerian Diaspora on matters related to all the services the group highlighted 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.”
The government agency also noted that it will not ask any diaspora groups or individuals to send money through it for any development purposes, citing this as a red flag and warning diaspora groups and individuals to be wary of such organisations.
It also called on ministries, departments, agencies, groups, individuals, and embassies to collaborate with NIDCOM in verifying diaspora-related activities to prevent scams.
“NIDCOM hereby warns Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora, to be cautious in dealing with such groups, as our office is inundated with a series of fraudulent activities of some of these groups, a number of which are now subjects of investigations with the EFCC.”
