I had trouble putting a title to this piece. That was because I didn’t want it to convey the wrong impressions and I also wanted it to attract people to read this piece and maybe somehow bring about a new perspective to “surviving” in Nigeria.
I want to believe I will describe in this piece, the type of Nigerian called the “Rich and Successful Nigerian with a Nigerian passport”. I must put a caveat though: Rich and Successful may not necessarily mean money but may be Rich and Successful in mind! The summary of this piece is this statement: “Nigeria is the only place I know that when it comes to doing business and achieving dreams in the midst of immense possibilities making good honest money also affords you the possibility of being treated as a real citizen with rights. The paradigm has been that those with ill gotten wealth are the only ones with access and protection BUT the question is – Do I have to live here?” Nigeria continues to be a tough environment to do business. Most of the time, simply applying business principles learnt in business school can put your entire business in trouble. I have always laughed at foreign companies who come and set up shop in Nigeria and feel they can muscle in somehow just because they have access to money. This has always been similar to the returnees to Nigeria who come with a few thousand dollars and feel they are kings. They ship a long used car or sort of new car with flood insurance and maybe furniture they got very cheap and somehow begin to bother all of us struggling people in Nigeria with questions like “Whats going on in Nigeria?” or “So, guys, I am back! How do we make money in Nigeria?”. Sometimes I wonder if they think we have all been sitting around waiting for them to bring the Dollars home! What’s pitiful is that, One year down the road, they are completely as normal as we are, still telling stories of where they used to live in New York or wherever. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t resent them. I just wish they were better prepared to come home! At this point, it may be good to refer to my “Don’t come home” piece! So, what’s the trend in Nigeria now. Its simple. Successful men with means are typically not keeping their families in Nigeria anymore. I might add that those that have stolen money in this country have also followed this trend. Its not really because of the security situation in the country (I tell you, it’s just an added advantage) but it’s more of deciding that the money you have spent so much energy and time to make will not be spent uselessly on things that are not normal. Expenditures that are highly unnecessary. e.g. diesel for generators, car maintenance, water, daily losses due to “life in Nigeria” and other losses of income like Aso-Ebi (all manner of clothes for parties), flight tickets to attend weddings in other parts of the country and just the cost of generally keeping up appearances in Nigeria! It just doesn’t make sense. So what happens, the typical young guy now moves his family to the US, UK, South Africa, Dubai and Other hot Nigerian infested spots. Actually, the truth is that Nigerians are in EVERY corner of the world(even in places you cant spell properly) doing business. I met a guy on a South African flight bound for Lagos who says he imports items from Brazil and lives in a town so far from the city! Yet his family is there and only comes to Nigeria once in 2 months to sell off his products as wholesale, collects his money and goes back to “his country”. I used to wonder about these people, but now, I think I can see why! It just doesn’t make sense to die knowing that you spent a lot of what you earned in life coping with life in Nigeria! Yes, as I write now, I still live in Nigeria (though I must admit I spend a lot of time outside of the country). But I have noticed one thing though: I don’t go in taxis wherever I go, I drive rentals. This gives me a feeling of integration with my new society. I always rent furnished apartments and not hotels. I find this always gives me the satisfaction of what a good home would look like. Nigeria fortunately has an integrated banking system. I find myself not using my local Visa and MasterCard debit and CREDIT (yes, credit) cards with access to my local bank account. In a lot of ways, I find a lot of things cheaper. Shopping for food is a humbling experience anywhere you go outside of Nigeria. There are so many options, you spend so much less and you fill your fridge when you get home with lots of varieties you would probably never consume but yet the fridge looks so colorful. Its so satisfying! Yes, you would probably eat out everyday! So, I find that doing this gives me the confidence – I can do this! If money is being paid into my account in Nigeria and I am spending here, why do I have to be there?? The truth is that we pay crazy rents in Nigeria anyway so you would see that rent is cheaper abroad than in Nigeria. At this point, since I don’t know anything about taxes in other countries, I tend not to care since I am not working there! I know visiting other countries is different from actually living there. But I want to strongly believe that is changing now. Case in point – a good friend of mine bought a house in the UK, moved his wife there who started school and managed the kids also. He stays in Nigeria and runs about unhindered. Aggressively chasing down deals and ensuring money is coming in. Now has the ability to have meetings till 11pm in the night and can decide to stay in any city the night meets him in. He does this for 2 weeks every month and spends the rest in the UK, relaxed with family. Now some may argue that this may not be a sustainable plan. But hey, its NOT supposed to be sustained! Its what you do for like 2 or 3 years, look back at what you have gained and then decide for yourself on your own terms what type of life you want to live after and where! Truth is, that’s just 12 flights a year! Assuming you pay for all your tickets for the year in January, it means all your schedule for the year is set. You would typically not come to Nigeria from the UK and be faffing around or spend it in bars or chasing women. Believe me, its the complete reverse of what we did about 10 years ago in Nigeria! 10 years ago, we would travel to the US or UK, work our butts off, transfer the money back home and finally come home to retire to the savings. Maybe start a small business and live easy. Nigerians are totally doing the reverse now (and some people are stupidly coming home!!). Really, if you look at it, it is the reverse these days! Another factor driving this reverse role now is this: More children are going abroad for school these days than in Nigeria. And of course, who better to stay with them and monitor them than the mother. Before you know it, the mother moves abroad and gets a small job. But she is not under pressure cos the money is coming from Nigeria. I believe we have gone above the life of 2 or 3 jobs in foreign countries now! In a short time, the husband comes and goes. But I tell you, when they are together, they are really together! All in all, this is a new trend I see among our younger generation who have open minds. And it is looking like the new order of the day. My advice, if you are a business man, any business that requires your personal attention is either not yet a mature business or a business you should not be in. Most good businesses are driven by technology these days and so long as you can run your business remotely, you are better off. Whether you live in Nigeria or not. I rest my case. Now you know my plans.
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