The rich international businessman, Richard Branson, has lambasted the crop of leaders we have in Nigeria for their high level greed which, according to him, is killing big brands wishing to do business with the government of the country, for the growth of Nigeria's economy.
Below is the revelations by Mr. Branson on his experience in Nigeria…
The chairman of Virgin Atlantic said: "…we have virgin's ill-fated footsteps by setting up a new airline in Africa in conjunction with Nigerian government…the details of the doomed attempts to crack the Nigerian market in the 2000s is better imagined…we put …together a very good airline-the first airline in West Africa that was ever IOSA/IATA operational safety audit accredited but unfortunately it got tied down to the politics of the country…we led the airlines for 11 years…
"We fought daily battle against government agents who wanted to daily make fortune from us, politicians who saw the government 49% as a meal to seek for all kinds of favour…watchdogs (regulatory body) that didn't know what to do and persistently asking for bribes at any point…Nigeria people are generally nice but the politicians are very insane…that may be irony because the people make up the politicians…
"But those politicians are selfish…we did make N3billion for the federal government of Nigeria during the joint venture…realising that the government didn't bring nothing to the table/partnership except dubious debts by the previous carrier, Nigeria Airways…The joint venture should have been the biggest African carrier by now if the partnership was allowed to grow, but the politicians KILLED it…Nigeria is a country we SHALL NEVER consider to doing business again.."
N0-body is not going to RB's comments seriously and this in a time when a consortium of investors from Europe are looking at DFI in a major infrastructural development in Ojo LG Lagos State.
ReplyDeleteO for the sins off our fathers!
When I read comments, I wonder if the people involved ever read this medium? One of the most prolific busnessmen evr born on planet earth has just issued a negatively indicting statement, and I wonder if the thieves that occasioned it will ever be aware. CRY, BELOVED COUNTRY! CRY!
ReplyDeleteThis is true talk...
ReplyDeleteI am not suprised
ReplyDeletefor us as nigerians, there's nothing new to us about what he has said. this are realities we are daily facing, fighting and living with. God deliver us from these thieving crop of politicians!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm very depressing.suffering and smiling
ReplyDeleteGreed... greed... greed. Soon, the foreign investors will begin to hate the country for its corrupt set up. And who's loss will it be?
ReplyDeleteMore foreign investors are expected.
ReplyDeleteYou will be a better judge on the Virgin Nigeria issue when you know the real facts. Government officials are corrupt, no doubt. But with those sturborn determination of Virgin to not keep the rules that also affect other airlines . . . ?
ReplyDeleteThis makes me sick
ReplyDeleteWe need a revolution in this goddam country
How can a country so full of brains be taken back ages by a bunch of half literate animals calling themselves politicians?
Problems is we do not have alternative to this half baked demoncrazy set up. Though the only beneficiaries of the civilan regime are the politicians, dont think of the military at all. They are worse animals. The brutes will take over the roads and our lives in broad day light and stlii loot the country blind if we allow them. What we meed is a restructured country. With power to the 6 regional governments. That way, there is less money and power at the centre. When we have aweak centre finacially, then the corruption will be less. The attraction to the national assembly in cash. Let each region or state pay the wages of its federal legislators, then the will be serious. Let the debate continue
ReplyDeleteDid you hear that: "they brought nothing to the table except dubious debt..." that is exactly what I see and I believe any intelligent Nigerians sees when most of our leaders act or speak. They sure had nothing upstairs worthy of praise.
ReplyDeleteAnd for millions of Nigerians crying for Jobs, RB said, that airline would have been the biggest in Africa by now. Imagine, tthat's hundreds of thousands of Jobs there.
See, not untill we all decide to carry out a revolution! The Arab spring started like this, Nigerians should just speak with one voice and get all these rotten leaders out of the way.
I weep for this Nation
Adeyinka Fadehan
Did you hear that: "they brought nothing to the table except dubious debt..." that is exactly what I see and I believe any intelligent Nigerians sees when most of our leaders act or speak. They sure had nothing upstairs worthy of praise.
ReplyDeleteAnd for millions of Nigerians crying for Jobs, RB said, that airline would have been the biggest in Africa by now. Imagine, tthat's hundreds of thousands of Jobs there.
See, not untill we all decide to carry out a revolution! The Arab spring started like this, Nigerians should just speak with one voice and get all these rotten leaders out of the way.
I weep for this Nation
Adeyinka Fadehan
Did you hear that: "they brought nothing to the table except dubious debt..." that is exactly what I see and I believe any intelligent Nigerians sees when most of our leaders act or speak. They sure had nothing upstairs worthy of praise.
ReplyDeleteAnd for millions of Nigerians crying for Jobs, RB said, that airline would have been the biggest in Africa by now. Imagine, tthat's hundreds of thousands of Jobs there.
See, not untill we all decide to carry out a revolution! The Arab spring started like this, Nigerians should just speak with one voice and get all these rotten leaders out of the way.
I weep for this Nation
Adeyinka Fadehan
What a useless country. Thank God i no longer live there and can just watch from the outside. Nigerias will continue to suffer at the hands of these greedy politicians for years to come until the people grow some balls and say enough is enough.
ReplyDeleteWe are the laughing stock of the world, fellow Nigerians. Even a man that sees potential in Nigeria, says he WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS THERE.