Festus Uzoma Mbisiogu is the President of Blue Diamond Logistics and Founder of Good Governance Initiative (GGI), a non-governmental organisation. He is also the coordinator of the Chinese chapter of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Guangdong Province, China. His philanthropic activities executed through Uzotex Charity Foundation, have continued to enhance the quality of life in various communities, which have benefited from the works of the foundation. During a recent visit to Nigeria, Mbisiogu spoke with Sunday Sun and shed light on the work being done by his firm to boost trade between Nigeria and China.
What gave you the breakthrough in China?
Let me start by telling you about my company, Blue Diamond Logistics, which is primarily engaged in the logistics business. We started from Dubai. The firm owns Blue Diamond hotel in Dubai. Part of the business we do is to bridge the gap between buyers and producers. About 80 per cent of Nigerians send their products from China through us. We help them to communicate with manufacturers in China; we stand as a middle person, and help them coordinate what they are buying, we ship and also clear for them.
I learnt that you have lived in China for over 12 years. What part of their lifestyle would you like to bring down here?
What excites me the most about China is how industrious the citizens are and that is what brought them to where they are today. I don’t know whether you are aware that China is the second largest country in the world.
Most of what the world consumes today comes from China. It’s so amazing seeing how their industries are thriving. Coming from a country where there’s no steady power supply constant electricity gave their industries a conducive environment to boom. Electricity brought massive development in China. Another thing that excites me as a businessman is the low interest rate available to entrepreneurs. You get single digit interest rates unlike Nigerian banks that charge 27-33 percent interest. Once you indicate that you want to go into manufacturing, you will get loans at single digit interest rate. You also get a rebate. You are tasked to produce for the country. Whatever you produce, you will receive 10 per cent rebate to export. That incentive alone excites me so much. With that everybody is trying to produce to feed the world, knowing that each item they export would earn them a rebate from the government. They are so happy with the incentives. If you look at Nigeria, 80 per cent of what we use here are produced in China. There is good life in China. They have the best food too.
What can you say about Nigeria at the moment?
Well, you know that we are in the witnessing another monumental and important phase of our national life – the general elections. As usual, politicians have been presenting their manifestoes, principles and ideologies to us. But there is no corresponding assurance on sustainable power. It is my strong recommendation that part of the new National Energy Policy must contain a contract, whether social or legal, with the would-be-President before he is sworn in. The document should be part of the oath of office the incoming president would take, should be binding and have the force of law and justiciable.
The provisions of the document should ensure and stipulate that if at the end of the four-year tenure the president was to provide steady power supply, he should not stand again stand for re-election. On the surface, this may be difficult, but nothing is ever cast in stone. Part of the way we can achieve economic growth and development is to continuously interrogate the activities of our leaders particularly as they concern steady power supply.
Instead of organizing presidential debates that have no significance or add to the true reflection of our national needs, why don’t we bring our presidential candidates and have them sign documents before the world that if they fail to provide us with the key democracy dividends that Nigerians should not re-elect them?
What challenges have you had in coordinating NIDO in China?
Only few Nigerians living in China have a resident visa. I don’t think there are up to 10 Nigerians that live in China with their wives because of visa issue. In America when you have visa, your wife and children automatically have visas. In my province, Nigerians are no longer given resident permit. There is no longer visa extension. Nigerians who are married and residing in China are not given resident permit. I commend the Chinese authorities for their hospitality. But, I also tell the authorities that they should not stereotype Nigerians because so many of us are good people. Many Nigerians, including myself, have been living in China without criminal record for years. Also, the way we have communal life in other countries is not the same in China. It is difficult to practice that in China. Once you have Nigerian passport, they look at you somehow. They believe every Nigeria is not genuine, and I have voiced out times without number to the authorities that I have stayed in China for 10-15 years without committing any crime. About 2,000 Nigerians are in the cell in Guangdong province for different offences but mostly on drug issues. I spoke with Hon. Abike Dabiri on these issues facing Nigerians in China and she has indicated interest to visit and look into the plight of Nigerians.
Being a leader, what have you done to curtail vices in your province?
On my own, I call for meetings. The most recent was held as a townhall meeting, to educate Nigerians about China because many of them are ignorant of Chinese laws. The theme of the meeting was: ‘We all must say a big No to illicit drugs.’ I inform and educate Nigerians on the dangers of drug trafficking and other acts of criminality in China. Once you are caught trafficking drug that is the end. It is death penalty. I lecture them about Chinese laws, making them realize they are not practicing democracy.
What has life taught you as a person?
Let me start by using the word, integrity. Honesty is what has kept me going in life. I have come to realise that if you want to achieve success in life, integrity is the greatest asset one can have. Once you have integrity, people will look for you, and do business with you. Another thing is commitment. You have to be committed, focused and avoid being distracted. Even when you are distracted, keep moving; you will get there. God in His wisdom made the world to accommodate everybody. Once you show passion and dedication to what you are doing, God will help you.
What is your fashion expression?
In China, I wear traditional outfits because my country comes first and I’m proud of my country. Once the Chinese people see that, they look and say, ‘you must be from Africa or Nigeria’? And I just smile.
How do you unwind?
I’m not the club type. My relaxation is at weekend. I live in a very cool area. I watch movies and interact with my friends but mainly on weekends.
Where is your favourite holiday destination?
Dubai and United States of America. If I’m in Nigeria, I travel to Owerri and Calabar. I remember the first time I took my children to London, they said, ‘Daddy, NEPA is not taking the light.’ I smiled and told them why it is so. I took the children out on holidays for them to have a wider experience of life.