"Nigerian women are beautiful, tempting" – Jamaican investor

Before Garey Reid came to Nigeria for the first time, he had wrongly believed the country was backward in civilization that the people lived on trees! So he was naturally pleasantly surprised to find the streets filled with exotic cars with swanky hotels dotting the landscape. After undergoing a personal re-education, he is now investing good money in different sectors of the economy, in partnership with his two friends, Stephen Igbinose, a UK-based Nigerian, and Neoclis Neocleous, a Briton. They are currently setting up MOSS Petroleum International, an oil and gas firm, as well as other businesses in Koko, Delta State. In an interview with Sunday Sun, he spoke glowingly about his girlfriend, Corrinne, an international model, and also revealed that he had lived in England for over 30 years and had never visited his Jamaican home. He also confessed that Nigerian women are gorgeous and tempting but stressed that he had always strenuously resisted getting involved in any relationship with them because of his intimate and roaring romance with Corrinne and two kids who, according to him, mean a lot to him. Excerpts:



Have you visited Nigeria before?

No, this is my first time in Nigeria.

Why are you in Nigeria?

The reason I’m here is to take a look at the MOSS Petroleum project and see the progress made so far. Like I said, I’ve never been to Nigeria before and it’s really a massive experience to be here and having seen the project at the local community and all those other oil companies that are there, I’m really impressed.

You mean you have been to the village with Steve?

Yeah, we travelled to Koko village, in Delta State.

Were you impressed?

Yeah!

How did you find that area?

It was a bit different for someone living in England and all those oil companies there are just making a lot of money but they don’t seem to be giving back to their host communities and that was something I was sad about. The way they were playing like in a playground unlike in England because everyone is enlightened. An oil-rich town should have everything. The people shouldn’t be scavenging in garbage dumps to survive. Honestly, oil companies need to look at this with a view to putting things back into the communities; they should be giving as they are taking.

In the UK, people generally view Nigerians as unreliable people. What made you trust Steve so much as co-invest with him in the country?

Steve is my friend and I trust him. I’ve known him for 12 years and I know what they say about Nigeria. But, if you get it the bad way it is played that everyone is bad by everyone’s understanding, that’s stereotyping really. You can’t just stereotype everyone. So, I did not listen to what everyone was saying when we were coming. When we were coming, everyone was saying, “Don’t do it,” “He’s gonna reap you off,” “This is going to happen and that’s going to happen.” But I told them, “Look, I don’t need to listen to what you are saying because this guy is friendly and that’s the truth; so, I don’t need to listen to you.” You know. And lucky enough for me, I run my own stipend. And because we are good friends, I’ve worked with him in the past and it paid off because he’s trustworthy. Steve looks clean enough for me…you know my instinct and… we are good friends. So, everything is what it is.

What inspired you to invest in Nigeria?

Oh, it is something I never, ever thought I would come for in Nigeria, actually. Never mind that investing in an oil company is massive, I think, seeing how big it is, and to know what is to be injected into it, he will not want to invest a whole lot of money.

Now that you have seen Nigeria in a different perspective, would you like to come back and spend like two, three years or even relocate to this country?

Hmm, yes and no. My family is at the rural community back there. And I’ve got a girlfriend and two kids. But we’ll definitely come out for holidays sometimes, especially going so far, anyway.

From what you have see about Nigeria and the Nigerian people since you came, what kind of message will you take back to England?

Well, I have already posted some stuff on Facebook about Nigeria. So many stories were told the country. We heard that Nigerians live in trees, caves and all that. So, I took a picture of my hotel and other activities, beautiful everyday scenario like swimming pool, exotic cars and everything. And I told them, “Oh, you people think that Nigerians live in trees? Well, I’m telling you that they don’t.” And I put the pictures on Facebook for them to see everyday Nigerians. My views about Nigeria all my life were wrong. I’m quite shocked that most of the things I’ve seen here are up-to-date also.

That was quite impressive. People there don’t know about Nigeria. They thought Nigerians live in trees?

That’s what they made us to believe over there.

Now that you have known the truth, what other businesses would you like to do in the country?

Definitely, you know with MOSS Petroleum in place, everything else will be incorporated under it with Steve as chairman; Neoclis and me will be directors. So whatever there is to do I do will be for MOSS Group. But I would be more involved in the leisure, health and beauty aspect of MOSS Group. I would also love to establish a mega-boxing school in Nigeria. I’ve seen a lot of talents around and with a good coach and other enablement they will do well. We intend to invest a whole into the economy here.

Have you been able to see Nigerian women in their natural form?

Yeah, yeah, I’ve seen many of them. And they were very, very attractive. And I was like, whao, she’s gorgeous! It’s just that they are not portrayed as it is here in the media over there, which I feel is really wrong. You’ve got a good country here.

Are you married?

No, I’m not.

Would you like to marry a Nigerian woman?

(No, no, no) I have a girlfriend and I love her. I’ve got two kids and they mean a lot to me.

You mean you can resist Nigerian women?

I must confess that they are really beautiful and tempting. And sometimes when I see them around, I adjust my ring for them to see that I’m married.

Nigerian women are really beautiful. They would like to see that woman that made you to resist them. Can you give me her photograph?

Sure, I will.

What’s her name and what does she do?

Her name is Corrinne Hunter and she is a model.

What are your kids’ names?

They are Daesha, a girl and she’s 11; and Rocco, a boy, who is 15 months.

You are a boxer right?

Sure.

Is it true that boxers are like machines in bed?

(Laughs heartily) This guy’s killing me here. Don’t ask me that.

I’m sorry. But are you a machine in bed?

I’m a machine men, I’m a machine.

Then I need to take you to Calabar. Ever heard about a place called Calabar?

No.

Okay, I’ll take you there someday.

Okay.

Has your girlfriend ever confessed to you that you’re a machine?

Don’t ask me because you know that. Women like boxers you know.

From what you have seen around, given the opportunity to advice the Nigerian authorities, what would you tell them?

They should put more into the rural communities and the youths, provide infrastructural facilities for them. There doesn’t seem to be enough for young people over here. It is something I’ll have compassion about when I’m back in England. You know, our government, they put a lot into sports and other activities back there. There is crime rate now because many youths are not engaged. So it is something I would like to bring over to put up a project for young kids and train a lot of them so they can have something to look forward to in future.

Source: Sunnewsonline