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In 2025 we have to ask ourselves why Nigerians are still being dupes by Callous Fraudsters
Naija Get Rich Fast, is it Greed, Desperation _ebi pa wa_ or just Laziness let's discuss
In hard times everyone wants to get out of hardship of Inflation, joblessness, hunger & hopelessness
Some oeople who save their money under their beds or in their secret hiding places away from rats & snakes or grass cutters end up losing money with inflation eroding the value of cash. Leaving in banks is safer but has low returns and there is also a small risk of banks going bust.
If you have spare money and you don't know what to do with it or you want to invest it there are some basic rules you have to follow:
Seek knowledge, do research and never trust offers of double your money or 50% returns as these are almost always likely to be scams
Get Independent Financial Advice and make sure if you are investing in stocks & shares the broker is registered & regulated with the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) if its a banking investment the app or bank is registered with CBN, you should check Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to find out as much information as possible about the company if its a Ltd Company. If it is a PLC you must check with the Nigerian Stock Exchange NSE and review its accounts, past & current performance. Regular updates on Business Times are also helpful.
Always verify the Legal status of Investments, though verbal contracts are legal it always better to have written contracts that must be witnessed & dated.
_Anything that sounds too good to be true is certainly likely to be a scam. Trust your inate instincts_
Seek Legal advice before signing any contract, make sure your lawyer is registered with the NBA & not a _Kalo, kalo lawyer_
Never make any Investmeny decision in a hurry. If the company or Investment opportunity is pressuring you to sign, this is a red flag for you to bail out.
When buying Land or Property be weary of Land speculators, get an NBA registered Lawyer to always check the documentation and confirm the existence of a valid Title documents, Survey & C of O. Don't drop your money or sign the dotted line till you have verified the genuineness of the sale. Also make sure the land is not demarcated for Govt use. Always use a surveyor registered with the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors.
The number one lesson in investing is to have a
Diversified Portfolio of safe and risky assets.
*Guranteed Returns* which are considered safe assets are Govt Bonds, Gilts & Treasury Bills. They give Guranteed rates of return which are usually above inflation rate. Most of our Elote & the banks are making Ntrn's every year from Govt bonds & treasury bills. It is time you did same. It's the easiest way to make returns it gives better returns than just saving in the bank.
*Bank Savings:* Banks have a number of investment accounts, Savings & Fixed Deposit Accounts with varying rates of interest, but currently their rates are lower than inflation rates, making them largely unattractive bit they offer a safer return than other risky investments.
Bank deposits are protected by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation
Insurance company (NDIC) which guarantees payment of deposits up to the maximum insured sum of N500,000 to a depositor in Banks and PMBs and N200,000 to a depositor in MFBs
There is a need for NDIC to review it's guarantees as most people with deposits in excess of N500,000 stand to lose most of their money shoukd their bank go bust, it should be a increased to minimum guarantee of N1m of each deposit account.
*Risky Investments* are all other investments which come with risk. Like gambling there is no guarantee of return.
Everyone has their own attitude to risk some are risk averse whilst others love to take risky decisions with the principle _low risk, low return, high risk high return_ . You have to strike a balance.
*Stock Exchange* Investing in Nigerian & International stocks & shares offers good returns. NSE has always grown over time and it offers dividends & stock appreciation. You can invest directly or by using a broker, you will have to do due diligence & research on the stocks.
Best strategy us to have a diversifued portfolio of stocks to include banking, major conglomerates, Fintechs & other major or upcoming industries.
*Money, Commodity & Futures Trading* are also viable investment options which bring high returns but has high risk one must tread carefully and seek advice and do some serious learning before delving into these trades which can open you to big losses depending on the type of trades & posotions you are holding especially in these shifting times of Trump led Tariff Trade wars.
You can also invest in Wealth Funds but as usual you must do your due diligence many Insurance companies offer Annuities, Endowments and Pension fund plans where you put an amount aside each month or year which appreciates to develop a fund for a future date ideally for retirement planning and to generate guaranteed income streams.
This is another good investment but you will have to make sure the Insurance company is registered with The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM
Types of Private Wealth Funds:
*Private Equity Funds:*
These funds invest in private companies, either by purchasing them outright (buyouts) or by investing in early-stage startups (venture capital).
*Hedge Funds:*
Hedge funds employ sophisticated investment strategies, including short selling, leverage, and derivatives, to generate profits.
*Real Estate Funds:*
These funds invest in commercial and residential real estate, offering exposure to the real estate market and potential income generation.
*Infrastructure Funds:*
Infrastructure funds invest in large-scale infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and energy infrastructure, providing a diversified portfolio with potential for long-term returns.
Private Credit Funds:
These funds lend money to private companies, often at higher interest rates than public debt, offering a different risk-return profile than traditional equity investments.
In the alternative Investing in the real sector is anoter area of Investment in.property, trading, Agriculture, manufacturing, transporting, education, health etc. These all come with their associated risks.
*Family/Friend Investments:*
Some choose to invest with family & friends. The same Investment advice applies, make sure yoj have written signed & witnessed contracts and you don't due dilligence & seek.professional.advice before parying with your money.
When investing with Family & friends make sure they are transparent and that they are also investing a.significant proportion.of their own money in the venture. A venture where your partner is not taking any risk is unlikely to be successful. If it goes wrong only you will lose. Such investments should be at all costs.
So many people have been duped by family members especially us in the Diaspora with some diabolical examples which led to murder, deaths & suicides. Please tread carefully. As business failure or fraud can lead to end of family ties & long term relationships. Honesty, Respect and transparency is essential for such businesses to succeed. You can be a silent Investir but that is not advisable if investing a large amount of money. There has to be clear boundaries & control mechanisms.
I wish you good luck in all your investment decisions, make sure you follow the principles of investment. I
'm investing in a farm and I'm trying my best in challenging circumstances it's time for me to return to the farm to see how my investment is going I will update you all in due course.
Do you have any other advice, what's your view? Please share thanks
*Femi Oke Betta9ja*