…urge investors to closely track government spending
…alleged a senior FCDA official demanded bribe to approve project
By Gloria Ikibah 
The Chairman of Dar Global Financials, Kunle Ilori-Diamond, on Wednesday unveiled a $25 million acquisition fund targeted at Nigeria’s microfinance banking and real estate sectors, while urging investors to closely track government spending under the 2026 Appropriation Act to identify emerging opportunities.
Speaking at a world press conference in Abuja, Ilori-Diamond argued that the most successful investors are often distinguished not by privileged access but by their ability to interpret public information before others.
Drawing parallels with recent moves by major business figures, he noted that investment decisions often signal future economic trends.
He said: “The difference between people who actually go ahead in business and investment, and people who don’t, is the kind of information that they pay attention to.
“If someone takes a lot of fortune to invest in a power-generating company ahead of a certain year, and that happened in the last quarter of 2025, it means there’s something going to happen in 2026 that we don’t know about, that he does know about.”
N3.48 Trillion Roads Budget Holds Investment Clues
Ilori-Diamond pointed to the Federal Government’s allocation of N3.48 trillion for road construction, describing it as one of the clearest indicators of where future wealth creation could occur.
He explained that infrastructure projects frequently transform land values and commercial prospects.
According to him, major opportunities exist along strategic corridors earmarked for federal investment, including the Calabar-Maiduguri Road Corridor, the Maiduguri-Sokoto Corridor, and several presidential legacy projects.
“If N3.48 trillion is being allocated to road construction in Nigeria, all you need to know is where those roads are going to be.
“Government is simply telling you where it wants to spend its money. That is where you can gamble yours as well, because government is playing big in that aspect.
“The budgetary emphasis is locked into concluding critical multi-regional mega highways. Anything that is a presidential legacy project happening around a certain place is a good place to invest in”, he noted.
Abuja Expansion Set to Create New Property Hotspots
The investment banker also highlighted Abuja’s growing real estate potential, citing what he described as a substantial allocation towards urban road infrastructure.
He specifically identified locations around the airport corridor and expanding satellite towns as areas likely to benefit from government-backed growth.
“Anywhere that is a corridor in Abuja is going to blow up because there is N1.6 trillion allocated to just roads.
“If I had a lot of money, I would be investing massively in Kuje, in airport corridors like Kyami, in Lugbe and along the frontier between Abuja and Kaduna”, he emphasised
Agriculture Remains a Goldmine
Turning to agriculture, Ilori-Diamond said investors should align their business decisions with sectors receiving substantial government support.
He noted that the Ministry of Livestock Development had received an allocation of N81.8 billion, while the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was backed by a capital budget of N1.3 trillion.
He therefore urged Nigerians to study government priorities before committing capital.
“The kind of business that can thrive is the one that the government is already doing, because the government doesn’t want to fail.
“If the Ministry of Livestock is trying to stabilise livestock feeds, then all you need to do is find money and start producing livestock feeds because it is in alignment with the budget”, he stated.
The Dar Global Financials chairman also identified Niger State as a key destination for agribusiness investments.
“If government allocates N420 billion to Niger State and wants to succeed, they will create roads, power and security around that investment. If you want to start a food processing firm, that is where you should be looking”, he added.
Launches of $25m Acquisition Drive
At the centre of the conference was the formal launch of Dar Global Financials’ $25 million acquisition fund, which will focus on purchasing struggling microfinance banks and real estate development firms across Nigeria.
According to him, the strategy will involve restructuring and scaling acquired businesses rather than dismantling them, adding that founders who wished to retain a stake in their businesses would be accommodated.
“A couple of investors and investment bankers came together and put a capital of $25 million into a pool to invest in Nigeria.
“We are trying to acquire microfinance banks and real estate development firms that already have established brands across Nigeria.
“If there is any microfinance bank that is not really doing well and they are looking at liquidating or selling it off, we are looking at buying it from them.
“If you don’t want to sell entirely, we can structure it so that you still retain up to 15 per cent of the company while we take over operations,” Ilori-Diamond announced.
Mortgage Revolution Planned
Ilori-Diamond further disclosed that Dar Global intends to integrate acquired microfinance banks with its real estate investments to expand access to housing finance.
He argued that existing mortgage systems remain inaccessible to many Nigerians, particularly workers in the private sector.
“What we want to do in the market now is disrupt it.”
“Everybody can get access to a mortgage. We finance the house, you move into your house, and then you pay over a period of years.
“A simple civil servant cannot even afford to get a house comfortably under the current structure”, he asserted.
Calls for Stronger Public-Private Partnership
Responding to questions from journalists, Ilori-Diamond called on government to strengthen collaboration with private investors.
“One of the reasons this press conference is happening is for government to see the need to partner with the private sector.
“Partnership with the private sector is not only about funding or resources; it is also about connections, approvals and getting things done on time”, he said
On insecurity, he advised investors to focus on locations where government has committed significant resources.
“If government is spending in a particular place, they will want to make that place safe because their own money is there. Just follow their money and you might be lucky”, he noted.
Corruption Allegation Against Development Official
In one of the most dramatic moments of the conference, Ilori-Diamond alleged that a senior development control official demanded a bribe in exchange for approving a project.
The businessman said such practices discourage investment and undermine economic development.
“There is a certain development control official who said if I don’t pay him N100 million, he would not approve it.
“I stayed abroad for many years. I decided to come back because I believe in Nigeria and I am putting my money in Nigeria. We have people in offices who are frustrating that kind of investment,” he alleged.
He called on authorities to investigate allegations of corruption within development control agencies and ensure swift action where wrongdoing is established.
“If we don’t stop such people, they will do it to everybody. People who are struggling to put up a business will feel Nigeria is not a good place to invest”, he added.
‘Performance Must Matter’
Ilori-Diamond also urged the Federal Government to hold public officials accountable for budget implementation.
“If two times in a row you cannot prove something tangible that you’ve done, you should be relieved”, he said.
He praised the use of ministerial scorecards and called for stricter performance assessments across government agencies.
Dar Global Financials officially opened applications from microfinance banks and real estate firms seeking acquisition, partnership or restructuring under the newly launched investment fund.
