Video: ‘I borrowed £75k in UK to invest in Nigeria; everything gone’ – Abuja businessman laments

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A Nigerian businessman has appealed for help after alleging that his business premises in Abuja were demolished without prior notice, leaving him counting his losses and hundreds of people without jobs.

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The businessman made the claim in an emotional video shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he said he had borrowed £75,000 in the United Kingdom to return to Nigeria and invest in the country.

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According to him, the property was completed barely a year ago before bulldozers arrived and pulled it down without warning or official notice.

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“Around 12 or 1 in the afternoon, bulldozers just came. Nobody gave me notice. I took a loan from the UK, £75,000, to come and invest in Nigeria. You people said we should come back from the diaspora to invest in Nigeria.

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“I’ve never done any government contract. I don’t know anybody in government. I came with my own money from the UK to invest here.”

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The businessman said the demolition had left him devastated, particularly because of the financial obligations attached to the investment.

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He also claimed that the facility directly employed 84 people, while businesses operating within the premises supported the livelihoods of about 300 others.

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“As I’m talking right now, I’m thinking of counting my losses, packing my things, tearing my Nigerian passport and going back. I have friends who have destroyed their Nigerian passports because of things like this.

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“In this place alone, about 300 people have been rendered jobless. And you people say you’re creating jobs? Is this how you create jobs?” he added.

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The businessman did not disclose the specific government agency or authority responsible for the demolition in the video.

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