Another allegation against NIDO has to do with how some of its officials resorted to “touting tactics” in the matters of Virgin Nigeria’s ticket given to NIDO during last years Diaspora event in Abuja. The chairman of NIDO wrote follow-up mails addressed to pointblanknews.com after thirty-six minutes of telephone conversation last week.

According to Dr. Kassim: “I am glad that you bothered to check your facts with me before rushing out to Press Nigerian style.

The following are my answers to your enquiries:

1) Allegation 1 -- that plots of land given to Diaspora Nigerians have been sold.

Answer: This is completely false; as I write only about 40% of the 320 Diaspora Nigerians who were allocated plots of land at the Abuja Diaspora village have picked up their offer letters and Certificates/Rights of Occupancy.

There is a condition on the land grants: They cannot be sold or transferred until the land is fully developed. Those who were awarded plots of land would need to pay 50% of the land improvement fees within 30 days with the remainder payable over 5 years. The land units will not be ready for development for two to three years as the FGN would still need to put in the roads, sewers, electrical, plumbing and other basic infrastructure into the subdivision. Even though the infrastructure work is already approved and there is a budget in place, knowing how slowly things move in Nigeria, I have been told the work will not be completed in two years. I hope you can now see how this fabricated story cannot be true. The land is NOT transferable until fully developed--that is with a completed building in place. Those who have been granted land are expected to have started developing the land in two years time failing which the land reverts back to the government. Similarly those who fail to make at least 50% of the land improvement costs will lose the plots of land which will then be reallocated to other Nigerians.
The list of all Nigerians who benefited from Phase 1 of the Abuja Diaspora Village will be published soon at www.agis.com.

2) Allegation #2 -- That ticket given to NIDO for the inauguration ceremony were sold.

As far as I know I was the only Diasporan invited to the Inauguration. No tickets were given to NIDO. Hon. Joe C. Keshi had one ticket for each event reserved for me. As it turned out I ended up not needing the tickets as I already had some reserved for me by the Protocol department at the Presidency, Aso Rock. Please check your facts on this allegation with Amb. Joe. C Keshi

3) Allegation #3 -- That free Virgin Nigeria tickets to Abuja were sold. I am assuming this is for last year's Diaspora Events in Nigeria. Virgin Nigeria donated 12 London to Abuja tickets for Nigerian youths. We are currently negotiating for a similar donation of tickets for Nigerian youths this year.

As Chairman, NIDO Americas I ensured that at least 5 of these tickets were allocated to Nigerian youths in Canada and the USA. The Nigerian youths from the USA and Canada were selected following an essay competition.

The rest of the tickets were used to sponsor Nigerian youths from Europe. I am not aware that any tickets were sold. In fact, I paid out of my own private funds the airport and security fees and taxes relating to each of the donated tickets approximately ($120.00 each) as the parents were not forewarned that the ticket donations would not cover the airport and security fees and taxes.

If you have any more questions please contact me at…………….. I am interested in talking to you!

His second mail read: “Additional Clarifications:

Thanks for our conversation earlier this afternoon.

All Diaspora Nigerians (not just NIDO members) were eligible to apply for land allocations at the Abuja Diaspora Villages a 64 hectare piece of real estate reserved for development by members of the Nigerian Diaspora in four phases.

The total number of successful applicants amongst those who submitted their applications through the NIDO Americas office is 250. The balance of the allocations went to those Diaspora Nigerians from all over the world who submitted their applications directly to the FCT office in Abuja.

The contact number for Dr Ismaillah Iro, of the Abuja Geographical Information Systems (AGIS)………………..
Dr Iro conducted the allocation process on behalf of Mallam Nasir el Rufai, former minister of the FCT.
He is in a good position to tell you exactly how the plots of land were allocated to the applicants.
As discussed I will be pushing further with Dr Iro the need to publish the list ASAP considering the spate of allegations on this matter. I strongly believe that the best way to put such allegations to rest is to counter by producing timely and factual information. THE FGN waived several criteria in the land allocation process for the Diaspora. State of origin was not a factor in the allocation process.

The total number of youths that attended last year's Abuja conference from Canada and the USA is 4, with one additional ticket given to an adult who served as the Chaperon as per the conditions for the ticket donation from Virgin Nigeria. I can only remember of head the names of three of the youths:

Amaka Uzoh----California

Derinsola Olasimbo -- Toronto, Canada 

Sonume Dan -Princewill-- Houston, Tx. 

Another female youth from Houston--whose name I cannot remember but can be obtained from Sonume her friend.

The 5th ticket was used by the Chaperon Mr. Richard Soyombo who can also be reached at…………...
As discussed the donated tickets covered only the London-Lagos portions of the trips. I paid from my own funds the airport and security taxes and VAT ($120.00 per ticket) for the four youths from North America.

The main coordinator who arranged for the ticket donations is Mr. Collins Nweke of Belgium--NIDO Europe.