Regular readers of Business Diary will, by now, be familiar with the persistent Dr. Obi Azuka who seemingly wants anyone and everyone to enter into the world of intrigue and big money -- $30 million worth of big money! Dr. Azuka has been writing to local businessmen, and journalists at The Royal Gazette , telling us he is the director of crude oil sales/marketing for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

He wants a savings account number. And, yes, he wants to deposit $30-million into our accounts, the change left over from some Kaduna refinery deal that he claims he's trying to get out of the country.

Don't they keep bank records in Nigeria? Is this guy for real? He promises to give those who go along with his scheme some 30 percent of that sum ($9 million).

He really thinks he can buy our silence for a mere $9 million! Dr. Azuka leaves his telephone numbers that include "my private mobile number for more details about the transaction''.

But he doesn't address any of us by name. He writes, attention: The President of the Company, and signs "for and on behalf of the officials involved''.

Sounds real official! Somewhere in his Afro-English prose, he notes that he and his people "have put in many years of meticulous services to the Federal Government of Nigeria.'' Dr. Azuka has twice marked his fax message "confidential''.

So please, don't tell anybody else. ..

* * * NJ THE SOUTHAMPTON PRINCESS might be one of the Island's top hotels, even one of the best in the world ... but for the sake of 55 cents it's annoying at least one of its regular guests.

A German businessman who often stays at the hotel says he's concerned that he can no longer get his morning copy of The Royal Gazette outside his room door.

And he's a little confused as to why such a simple service has been discontinued.

Noting "it's the little things that I admire about Bermuda's hotels'' he said he was about to phone around to determine which properties did offer a daily newspaper service.

* * * TOU WHEN it comes to tourism, Bermuda might like to take a leaf out of India's book.

Though vastly different in size and culture, the two countries have similar goals when it comes to attracting holidaymakers.

And looking at the latest figures, it would seem India's Tourism Board is doing something right.

Last year they managed to attract some 1.

5 million tourists -- up by over 250,000 on the previous year.

Their tourism earnings shot up by 14 percent to $1.47 billion.

Now, the Indian Government has launched a tourism campaign aimed at getting the annual figure up to five million visitors a year.

And if you've wondered about the sudden rush to invest in India, you might not be surprised to learn that much of the money is going into the building of new hotels.

The Financial Times points out that there are only two types of hotels in India at present -- the five-star deluxe or the back-pack hostel.

The race is therefore on to provide more in the way of reasonable-rate accommodation.

* * * BUC BAGELS mean big money.

Skolniks Inc., the largest bagel maker in the US, asserted Friday that its finances were in good shape and said a report questioning its cash position had a few, well, holes.

The company's stock was volatile on Nasdaq Friday, both rising and falling, in response to a report on CBNC Thursday and Skolnik's statement.

Chairman Bill Williams said in less than one year the Oklahoma City-based company had grown from less than 350,000 bagel sales per week to almost two million, with grocery store and convenience outlets having grown from less than 100 to over 20,000.

It went from one manufacturing plant to three and on Thursday announced plans for a fourth.

Food for thought...