I don't see any "crisis" here. The guy didn't do anything wrong to be appointed. They are simply attacking him because he's a minority.

I read this guy's qualifications when he joined FMBN. 2 masters and PHD including London school of economics, over 25 years experience in banking sector (which was quite efficient back in his days), no corruption records whatsoever PLUS he was involved in introducing mobile banking in Nigeria.

Mr. Hausa Journalist (AKA Garba Isa), Rest Your case, you cannot fool us just because him no be hausa like you. It's the same thing you people did when Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed Minister of Finance, you talked about "crisis". Allow this man to do his work. We need brain people in this country irrespective of ethnicity and / or religion. Allow this man to do his work

The silver colour one for sale? sport utility?

@ chyke70 - Oh yes, Zain finally heard my cry and fixed the problem at last; but it was too late as I had less than a week to enjoy the service in Nigeria,  I'm still glad they did something about it though, a r o u s e d some kind of satisfaction in me

I just don't know how to remove my earlier attached PDF file. Too bad!

@ errolmiran

I understand your points and that you seem to be spared but congratulations you said you joined the train of racists in the UK. You also don't seem to realise that many Chinese don't distinguish between northern and southern Indian - they just discriminate all as indians and I've witnessed countless times how Punjabis in Malaysia are discriminated by Malaysian Chinese even though their skin colour is lighter than tamils and even some Chinese. This is the same problem distinctive Africans face. Did you know that there are Nigerians that may be lighter in colour than you are? (I don't mean albinos) but there are fair skin Nigerians too. very light colour, only their hair could give you a clue that they are Africans.

Many things you said are true BUT not all races are racists, Just because your Nigerian girlfriend chose you does not mean other Nigerian girls would prefer light Indian over a black man. Yes, some times blacks act silly when they are in the presence of light coloured people. but most of those subconscious reactions are counter-racist and dorky submission to trend set by , not racism. I've seen countless times when a black guy chooses a darker girl and ignores the lighter coloured one. Colour is not everything, A black man has his way to see beauty and you have yours. I tell you this because I understand both Africans and Chinese people much better than to be told. I am a black Nigerian working in China. I also lived in Malaysia (a country I can tag as the most racist country in the world - particularly Chinese being racist against Africans and Indian irrespective of what kind of Indian). You are an Indian in the UK, so You may not understand when I talk about China.

The only thing I'd like you to derive from my long meticulous post is that Character and Personality is Stronger than Racism. That is the positive message I want to reach out to my fellow Nigerians so they can understand the truth and rather be well behaved optimists than furious and hopeless pessimist on this issue. Because it is my experience and if it is possible for me to be so close to Chinese and even be respected by their government, it is possible for another Nigerian to enjoy the same respect and privileges.


Good Luck to all. Long Live Nigerians

@ errolmiran

In as much as what you say is interesting, I think you're over emphasizing on certain issues like Chinese racism, For example: I am a very sensitive black Nigerian (such that can identify racists by their very first impressions) but I have lived in Asia for about 7 years… and now living with my 19th Chinese girl friend – fiancée actually (excluding the stalkers and all those I had short-term relationships and not counting those I had from other countries like Russians, Kazakstanis, Mongolians, Malaysians and Filipinos, and 1 brit)… If racism was that strong, I wouldn’t have Chinese girls approach me as a total stranger. I speak Chinese, Hindi, Malay and Japanese. I also have over 200 Chinese and Caucasian mix gender friends who are willing to do anything for me – whole heatedly… when I say that, I mean it… I’m sensitive enough to know who’s fake and who’s real. However, I’ve not been in situations where I need anyone to pay my bills. I think this simply depends on how one presents himself to the world… whether you are dark or light skinned, Racism is NOT more powerful than character. This is why Obama could win the US presidential elections despite the number of influential Caucasians who were against it.

I have lived in Malaysia, Singapore, UK, China and even India, I understand what you mean about northern and southern Indians (Tamil), I witnessed racism against southern Indians first hand in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and in Delhi, India… I’ve also observed that southern Chinese (particularly Cantonese people) are far more racist against blacks than northerners… I’m a black Nigerian working as a Software Project manager in local Chinese company, Beijing and on xmas break now (a job that many Caucasians find hard to get in China and also asking me for connections and assistance)… I'll tell you what you perhaps do not realize: 1. China is the least racist country in SE Asia, 2. Chinese racism is stronger and more practiced among Chinese settlements abroad than in china itself. Those settlements abroad (in the UK, US, etc) are dominated by southern Chinese people (Cantonese speakers)…

But since this discussion is about what happened to a black man in China, I will focus on how it is in China. You are right about Nigerians ever thinking of what they can get out of someone / what someone can do for them - it is an attitude that renders me feeling embarrassed almost always. There are many other defects in what anyone would conventionally define as the "Nigerian Peoples' Character Abroad", this is true and there are no two-ways about it. Most Nigerians in China never did a research on the country, never tried an inch close to the mind / culture of Chinese before putting china on their ambition list, they were also never interviewed by the Chinese before they moved to china. They rather just heard someone else say "there is money there" or something similar, This is the huge flaw that puts Nigerians at the risks they face… needing help from anyone who gets close to them and eventually causing friendly people to avoid them.

The Chinese people perceive a gap between us / our culture and theirs … and they have an ancient hardwired conception that every other race operates like them – E.G: Chinese operate in a single culture unit (understanding 1 Chinese person is enough to understand 1 million other Chinese people)… But modern black men operate more by personal principles than a common culture… To make this worse, many blacks (I mean those who visit China in good faith) do not find a way to bridge that simple gap between good personal principles and the Chinese perception of a black man. This is unfortunate. I know I’ve played my part and any Chinese who meets me always wants to meet other blacks in future – expecting them to be the same as me… all I worry about is for them not to meet the wrong ones.

Chinese may be tagged racist but they are also happy people. Unfortunately, many blacks don’t know how to use this advantage to inject a good impression in their minds… There are 6 times as many Chinese people living in Nigeria than Nigerians living in China. The Chinese in Nigeria will never mix up with Nigerians because of this… they are scared; they think Nigerians are too angry looking and / or silly. But if Nigerians in Nigeria cannot connect to the Chinese, at least the Nigerians in China can find it more necessary to positively connect to the Chinese… this is the only way to make it better.

Many places I’ve been to in Beijing, Chinese people take permission from me or my fiancée to take a picture with me… very happily (not to show others that they found a monkey in clothes but to pose that they got close to a black guy – believe it or not I’m sensitive enough to know). This glory may simply be because there are not so many black people in Beijing to spoil the show for me yet. The Chinese national sport is also Basketball (a sport dominated by blacks) and they never miss airing NBA seasons on their national television (CCTV) – NBA is full of blacks and then their famous Yao Ming. I see huge road side ads with Kobe Bryant’s poster in Beijing… if blacks were that ugly to them, they wouldn’t have done this… Chinese people are also getting to love hip-hop and play it often in clubs… several girls also told me they Love Akon… for this I got “free night meals” for other Nigerian visitors who somewhat looked like Akon. Someone also invited me to a show on CCTV… I politely refused – simply because I know whatever I do on TV will create a long lasting impression on the way Chinese viewers see Nigerians. And I don’t think I’m the best of a Nigerian stage talent or appearance to take on this task.

These are all signs that we can connect to them positively. Just remember you are in another person’s country and respect their laws, respect the people and they will respect you back, most importantly, don’t confront them on any issues and try to claim rights lousily. There are no human rights in china and we all know that. Your visa is almost expired, extend it, go to another country and get back to China or simply go home, What is so hard to do in this if you planned your life well before getting to china? Some may think I’m just talking because I'm fortunate not to face what Nigerians face… but no, I faced it too… but I know how to wave it away as nothing… for example:

When I was working my Visa Z, I was too busy to do it myself so I paid agents (even though they demanded for “double price for African passport”). 2 weeks later, they came back and told me it was not possible because I was African, “the government officials rejected blah blah”. I took back my passport and documents, took a leave from work and went to the visa office by myself. Unlike the agents said, those people were very friendly, we smiled with the government officials and instantly became friendly, I got that “2 week stage” completed the same day. Same day. Remember the government is made of human beings who have a brain to think. There is no Policy in China that clearly states that Africans should be exempted from getting visas but it’s just an instruction informally issued to visa agents because of the bad impression Africans have created in China …

If you ask them who said this and that, no one has answers. It’s not Mao Tse Dong, it’s not Mr. Hu Jing Dao, it’s not their foreign affairs minister, so who the hell? The Chinese understand that the US (being their current largest market) is concerned about import / export imbalance between them and china… and US is starting to place embargo on Chinese imported products to boost US GDP and open up another avenue to combat the Global Financial Crisis…. This is the point where china understands how important her relationship with African countries is. Nigeria is currently china’s largest market in Africa so why do you think you don’t deserve better treatment?

I would send this message to Nigerians. Unlike us, Chinese people do not appreciate confrontations and they will do anything to avoid it – including showing you the worst of the racist quality in them. There is nothing to complain about. If you understand the Chinese people well enough to approach them nicely and make fun about everything even when it seems serious, no matter what you look like, you will be able to connect to them and earn the respect you deserve while keeping your own reputation untainted.

Just like I always say to others, You need 3 elements to connect with any race in the world (including Chinese):

A. Impression – how are you dressed? How do you approach others?

B. Communication – do you speak Chinese? Even if you don’t, how do you speak English? Do you put yourself in their shoes to count your English words and speak n a pace they can understand? Or do you just speak that strong hard Nigerian accent and blame them for not understanding? I witnessed this one first hand when I got to the Nigerian embassy. I had to help a Nigerian official to communicate with a Chinese visitor… What kind of impression is this?

C. Consistency: After creating a good impression and creating good communication, can you keep it this way? Or won’t you complain and explode when you have a misunderstanding somewhere?


Well, if you’re not short of any of the above elements, you will not have any problem with the Chinese people (at least those who are a bit closer than just seeing you from a distance)… I hope this helps. R.I.P to the victim.

Long Live Nigerians

@ WackyJ1: You make it sound so glorious, 

The "1 month free internet access" has a limit of 100MB (that's if you're lucky enough to get it),  you can use up the 100MB in a day and that's it,  everything else you use will be charged for – So I wonder why they call it “1 month free internet access” instead of “100MB data valid for 1 month” (part of your 2,000 Naira). Doesn’t that sound deceitful? Maybe not yet!

I danced to the tune of all these Zain StepUp promises + their promise that calling customer service (111) from a Zain StepUp account would be preferentially treated - "you'll not have to wait on a queue blah blah" .  According to “newsroom”, a word is enough for the wise but I have much more than a word on this so If you have the time, patience and can cope with meticulousness, Read my crap experience with “Zain StepUp” below in the attached file – from which I have learned the level of frustration that potentially drives innocent people to become suicide bombers.

Zain StepUp - The more you Try, The more Fraudulent it Gets! - Be warned and be wise!!

and he's dead

Thanks for sharing.

I do regret the sad incidence but if you were here in South East Asia to see what Nigerians do, you'd understand that even the Nigerian government will not be listened to. No matter how hard we try here to re-build our reputation, there are just some people who will never stop upholding: 'anything for the money', 'Nothing go happen' and all these kinds of mindsets. I have lived in Malaysia, Singapore, China and Thailand and the best I can say is: Chinese people have absolutely nothing against us as a people. In fact, they are the most humble, tolerant, peaceful and warm people I've ever experienced anywhere in the world. I completely agree with Nuzo that they still give us a VIP treatment here.

If you witness how Nigerians are treated in Malaysia, Singapore and even Indonesia, you'll know that China is the least racist country in Asia. Yes, things happen to Nigerians. some have been killed in Malaysia,  we put up a legal fight for others who were suspected of murder and arrested without evidence. The Nigerian high commission in Malaysia is like an average man's residence (in architecture and surrounding) and almost unreliable when things like this happen. Everyday you see the word "Nigeria" or "Nigerian" on the headlines, be ready for the unpleasant contents. e.g

2 Nigerian students found dead in malaysia, Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi Executed In Singapore for Heroine trafficking, etc


I advice legal Nigerians who come to Asia, to conform to a humble spirit. e.g: The cops ask you for your passport, that doesn't mean they are racists. Just smile and show it to them. But of course a Nigerian will ask on top of his voice: "why do you want to see my passport?", "are you calling me a criminal?" and all unnecessary ways to handle simple issues just as you'd expect of a typical Nigerian. Be careful of which Nigerians you mingle with, respect yourself and others and you'll not have any problems with Chinese and other asians, because these people have far less brutal instincts than an average Nigerian does,  And they're most likely to fear / respect us than otherwise. As for those who come for illegal activities, I hope they someday understand that the money, efforts and time they expend to be here is enough to fetch them something far worth the while in Naija.

Be reminded that the Nigerian government is only powerful at home hence the saying: "A dog is a lion in his house". Out here, the government cannot help you. forget about "Giant of Africa", "Oil" and whatever reason(s) would make you believe you can get away with crime. No one knows anything glorious about Nigeria / Africa out here. Make sure your pursuits are legal, Portray good human courtesy and you'll be well treated wherever you go regardless of where you're from. After all, being nice to people does not mean being a coward + it goes a longer way repairing Nigeria's reputation than holding demonstrations. Finally, I hope we can learn from others' experiences. I deeply regret his death. RIP. God bless

Thanks again for sharing.