While Oprah Winfrey , the venerated American TV talk show host and  some of her western media partners are obsessed about Nigeria and scam e-mails and identity theft, allegedly engineered by some Nigerians and equally by some foreigners pretending to be Nigerians, the country’s administrations has decided to fight crime, fraud and corruption with ruthless force. And that effort is paying off positively. Nigeria is changing and she is changing positively in all aspects. Although one Nigerian reader, reacting to my article on the Economic reforms taking place in the country, since the democratic dispensation, wrote to contradict my claims, I stand my position that, things are optimistically changing in Nigeria. The said Nigerian reader wrote that: “there were no discernable proves on the common man and woman on the Nigerian streets.”

But I still maintain that, things are nonetheless improving positively in Nigeria as demonstrated by the macro economic indices of the country shows. As you must have noticed, the Nigerian writer/reader who doesn’t approve of my assertions that, Nigeria is positively changing, was in fact saying that, the economic reforms began by Obasanjo and to be continued by Yar’adua, are succeeding at macro level but at micro level, it not trickling down. He was and is still in deed right, but in order for the ordinary man and woman to savour the goods of economic reforms underway, the economic growth of Nigeria must have double digits for some time and the fight against fraud and corruptions which are the Jericho-like walls, cutting off prosperity to reach to the bottom of the country, must be given a ferocious fight. And it is exactly what the Nigerian government is doing. She has set up a body called: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Before 1999, 90% of scam e-mails originated from Nigeria or was claimed to be run by Nigerians. But with the advent of democracy and the determination of the government to root out crime and the corrupt networks helping crime to prosper, victories have been won and defeats sustained against the e-mail scam syndicate. Evidence that, the Nigerian government is winning the fight of scam e-mails and identity theft is that, the criminal net work has now relocated to neighbouring countries. For it is now difficult for them to use Nigeria has safe heavens, as they used to do before 1999. But the Nigerian government should not sleep on their oars until all those supporting the illicit trade, which tarnishes the image of Nigeria and renders arduous the lives of honest and hard working Nigerians at home and abroad, are arrested and brought to book.

My mail box is now crumbling under loads of scam e-mails and I am surprised at the boldness of their authors. I have published some samples of scam e-mails on my blogs: www.eliesmith.blogspot.com  and http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=718375086 . But above all, while some scam e-mail may still come from Nigeria, most are not. The new sources of those scam-emails are irrefutable substantiations that, Nigeria and the Nigerian government are fighting financial crimes and the country is definitely changed. Whatever the case, the only absolute safe way not to fall prey to scam e-mails is to be vigilant. Constantly double check any information from links provider by your interlocutor. Until the end of time, contact the Nigerian diplomatic missions in your country, before proceeding with any business claimed to be from there. Contrary what some people may claim, fear is good. But Nigeria is altering and confidently positive and there are people there, ready and willing to help out. Web site of the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria: www.efccnigeria.org.  

Robot  # 1 | 02.09.2007 04:17

While Oprah Winfrey , the venerated American TV talk show host and ...Read the full article.