₦airaland Forum

A shout-out to all those old friends who borrow money from us and then stop talking to us.

I feel that many people in Nigeria have become less creditworthy. In fact, money has become a true test of friendship. Once money enters a relationship, there is a good chance that the foundation of that friendship will be shaken, sometimes to the point of collapse.

A secondary school classmate reached out to me on WhatsApp. He said he urgently needed ₦100,000 and that it was a matter of life and death. To be honest, I wasn't financially comfortable myself, but I sympathised with him and decided to help a friend in need.

After sending the money, I jokingly told him that I was lending him a large sample of my blood. He laughed and promised to repay me within a month, and I agreed.

However, there was a red flag. The way he expressed his gratitude seemed unusual. He thanked me as though I had given him a gift rather than a loan. Immediately, I remembered the popular social media joke: "E get as person go thank you after you borrow am money, you go know say the money don go." I became slightly concerned, but ₦100,000 was still a relatively low-risk amount for me.

At the end of the month, he contacted me to explain that his father's wife was unwell and that there would be a delay in repayment. I remember thinking, "What does her illness have to do with the money I lent you?"

Nevertheless, I chose to be understanding and accepted his explanation in good faith.

Since then, I have not heard from him. He is no longer visible on WhatsApp, and all communication has ceased.

I don't feel particularly bad about the money. What disappoints me more is what our friendship apparently meant to him. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time.

Another friend was experiencing difficulties in his marriage, and I lent him ₦300,000 to support a business idea. Within a month, the business had folded. To this day, I have received no meaningful explanation about the money or any indication of when it might be repaid.

Experiences like these sometimes make me wonder how much some people truly value friendship. It can be painful when someone is willing to sacrifice a genuine relationship over a relatively small amount of money.

One lesson I have learned is to distance myself from people who refuse to communicate after borrowing money. If you owe me ₦50,000 and deliberately avoid me, then I consider that amount the price of learning who you really are. In a sense, I have paid for that lesson, and you will never enjoy the same level of trust or access to my life again.

Money can be recovered. Trust is much harder to rebuild.

What has been your experience lending money to people in the current economy? Has it ended well for you, or have you faced similar disappointments? Share your thoughts in the comments.

uche87:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1HsuwtsQws/?mibextid=wwXIfr

TheStoriesOfMan:
One guyman meet me say make I lend am 50k. I tell the guy say na 5k I fit spare am. You need to see the way he hissed at me. I felt embarrassed.

If them never do you, you no go understand this life be.

I'm not a money lender. If you need money,contact EasyMoni or Okash.

uche87:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1HsuwtsQws/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Gotocourt:
My stubborn girlfriend asked me to lend her money, i no gree .
She later said she wants who will lend her money without stressing her for payback , I referred her to Opay, fair money, LAPO wey go finally kee and bury her .

lordm:
I don't lend people more than 20k,

If I see you can't pay I won't even give you 5k.

lordm:
I don't lend people more than 20k,

If I see you can't pay I won't even give you 5k.