He had the deal.
He lost ₦200 million.
Early 2024. Emeka runs a logistics operation out of Lagos. He's been grinding for years — reliable, hardworking, good reputation on the street. Then a supply chain director at one of Nigeria's biggest FMCG companies sends him a WhatsApp message that should have changed his life.
They'd been watching him for months. They liked what they saw. The deal on the table: a 12-month logistics supply contract worth over ₦200 million.
Emeka had none of it. His "company" was just a name he called himself. His bank account was personal. His email was emekalogistics247@gmail.com. His invoices were screenshots made on Canva.
The 48 hours passed. The contract went to a competitor who had been registered for just six months. Not six years. Six months. One afternoon and ₦31,500 was all it would have taken.
That contract — and honestly, every contract like it — could have been his. The skill was there. The work ethic was there. The structure wasn't.
The gap between winning the deal and losing it is usually just paperwork.