General News
QNET Denies Fraud Claims, Pledges Cooperation with EFCC Investigation
QNET, a globally recognized lifestyle and wellness direct-selling company, strongly refutes allegations linking it to fraudulent activities following a recent operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kaduna Zonal Directorate in Minna, Niger State.
The EFCC arrested 28 individuals allegedly involved in Ponzi schemes, claiming they operated from a three-bedroom apartment in Al-Bishiri Estate and were linked to QNET.
We categorically deny any association with these individuals or their illicit activities.
While the EFCC reported recovering QNET application forms and documents during the operation, we assert that these materials are likely forged or fraudulent, as QNET’s business operates exclusively on an e-commerce platform and does not utilize physical application forms.
These items were clearly misused by unauthorized parties exploiting our brand. QNET operates a legitimate and ethical direct-selling business model, empowering independent representatives to promote high-quality wellness and lifestyle products.
As a global leader in the direct-selling industry since 1998, QNET adheres strictly to local and international regulations, maintaining the highest standards of compliance and integrity.
Statement from QNET Leadership
Biram Fall, Regional General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, addressed the allegations: “We are deeply concerned by the rising trend of scams falsely linked to QNET, including fake investment schemes and fraudulent job offers.
“These malicious acts not only damage our reputation but also harm unsuspecting individuals by eroding their trust and finances.
“QNET condemns all fraudulent activities and is fully committed to working with authorities to ensure justice is served.
“We urge the public to remain vigilant and verify all QNET-related opportunities through official channels to avoid falling victim to such deceptive practices.”
QNET’s Ongoing Commitment to Anti-Fraud Advocacy
Since entering Nigeria in 2022 through our local partner Transblue Nigeria Limited, QNET has prioritized financial literacy and consumer protection.
In November 2023, we launched the Say NO! campaign to educate the public about scams and Ponzi schemes, collaborating with key stakeholders such as the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
This initiative has reached thousands across Nigeria and neighboring countries like Senegal and Burkina Faso through multilingual billboards, radio campaigns, educational pamphlets, and social media outreach.
These efforts underscore our dedication to empowering communities with the knowledge to distinguish legitimate QNET services from fraudulent schemes.
Full Cooperation with Law Enforcement
QNET is committed to supporting the EFCC’s investigation into this matter. We are actively cooperating with authorities to clarify the misuse of our brand and ensure that those responsible for these fraudulent activities are brought to justice. We encourage anyone with information about this case to come forward and assist in the investigation.
Public Advisory: How to Stay Safe
To protect yourself from scams misusing QNET’s name, we advise the following:
● Verify all information about QNET through our official website: www.qnet.net.
● Report suspicious activities to our dedicated team at network.integrity@qnet.net or via our WhatsApp hotline at +233256630005.
● Learn more about identifying and avoiding scams at www.saynocampaign.org
QNET remains steadfast in upholding the highest ethical standards in direct selling.
We call on the media and the public to verify facts before associating QNET with unverified claims, as such misinformation can unfairly damage our reputation and the trust of our stakeholders.
For further details about QNET’s business, products, and anti-fraud initiatives, please visit www.qnet.net.
Nigeria has plans to launch a $40 million fund to support early-stage tech startups, aiming to strengthen the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and reduce young companies’ reliance on private investors.
The fund will be equally financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), which manages the national sovereign wealth fund.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), confirmed the final agreement would be signed within the next month.
The initiative is part of Nigeria’s Startup Act, adopted in October 2022, which aims to create a favorable environment for startups through tax incentives and financial support.
The act established a 10 billion naira (approximately $8.6 million) annual fund to finance certified startups through seed funding, grants, or loans.
According to Disrupt Africa, Nigeria’s startup ecosystem attracted over $2 billion in investments between January 2015 and August 2022, positioning the country as Africa’s leader.
Companies like Flutterwave, Andela, and Opay achieved multi-billion-dollar valuations.
, fundraising dropped to $224 million in 2023, down from $531 million in 2022 and over $1 billion in 2021.
This decline highlights the need for government intervention to revitalize the tech ecosystem amid investor caution.
The new fund marks a significant step for Nigeria, which aims to foster local innovation.
Currently, 12,948 companies are registered as startups, benefiting from a three-year tax exemption. Low awareness of the law’s benefits has prompted the government to plan a nationwide information campaign.
By facilitating access to funding, the initiative could strengthen support for existing startups and stimulate new tech ventures, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a leading hub for digital innovation in Africa.
Eight countries – six of them in Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya and Lesotho – could soon run out of HIV drugs following the US government’s recent decision to pause foreign aid, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.
US President Donald Trump announced the freeze on his first day in office in January as part of a review into government spending.
“Disruptions to HIV programmes could undo 20 years of progress,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief warned.
It could also lead to more than 10 million additional cases of HIV and three million HIV-related deaths, he added, noting this was “more than triple the number of deaths last year”.
Nigeria, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso and Mali – as well as Haiti and Ukraine – would run out of live-saving anti-retroviral (ARV) medicines in the coming months, Dr Tedros said at a press conference on Monday.
Trump’s executive order paused foreign aid support for an initial duration of 90 days in line with his “America First” foreign policy.
It has affected health programmes around the world, leaving shipments of critical medical supplies, including HIV drugs, greatly hampered.
The majority of the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) programmes have since been terminated.
Despite a waiver issued in February for the US’s ground-breaking HIV programme, its work has severely impacted.
Known as the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), it relies on logistical support from USAID and other organisations hit by the turmoil.
It has led to the “immediate stop to services for HIV treatment, testing and prevention in more than 50 countries”, Dr Tedros said.
Launched in 2003, Pepfar has enabled some of the world’s poorest people to access anti and has been credited with saving more than 26 million lives worldwide.
During his first days in office, Trump also announced that the US would pull out of the WHO, affecting funding for the global health agency.
“The US administration has been extremely generous over many years. And of course, it’s within its rights to decide what it supports and to what extent,” Dr Tedros said.
“But the US also has a responsibility to ensure that if it withdraws direct funding for countries, it’s done in an orderly and humane way that allows them to find alternative sources of funding.
An estimated 25 million people are living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, which is more than two-thirds of the global total 38 million people living with the disease.
In Nigeria, nearly two million people are living with HIV, with many relying on receiving aid-funded medicines.
Kenya has the seventh-largest number of people living with HIV in the world, at around 1.4 million, according to WHO data.
“We ask the US to reconsider its support for global health, which not only saves lives around the world, it also makes the US safer by preventing outbreaks from spreading internationally,” Dr Tedros said.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that as of February 28, 2025, the number of Nigerians enrolled in the National Identification Number (NIN) database has reached 117.3 million.
This marks a significant increase of over seven million registrations since September 2024, when the figure stood at 110 million.
Gender and State Distribution
The latest statistics reveal that 56.5% of registered individuals are male, totaling 66.2 million, while 43.5% are female, at 51.07 million.
Among states, Lagos leads with 12.6 million registrations, followed by Kano with 10.2 million and Kaduna with 6.9 million.
This is consistent with the high populations in Lagos and Kano.
Other states with notable enrolment numbers include:
Ogun (4.9 million),
Oyo (4.5 million),
Katsina (4 million).
In contrast,
Bayelsa (758,111),
Ebonyi (990,775),
have the lowest enrolment figures.
The government has been emphasising the need for citizens to link their NIN to access essential services, including social services, financial transactions, and telecommunications.
A well-developed and accessible digital ID system is seen as vital for effective digital governance.
Beyond strengthening security and promoting transparency, this initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of service delivery across the country.
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