By Mercy Aikoye
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has revealed that Nigerians living abroad spent approximately N60 billion during their visits to the country in December 2024. This expenditure, she noted, is a testament to the diaspora’s growing impact on the Nigerian economy.
Dabiri-Erewa made this disclosure while defending the commission’s 2025 budget before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diaspora. She also highlighted that remittances from Nigerians abroad have exceeded $90 billion in the last five years. This, she emphasized, demonstrates the significant contribution of the diaspora community to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The NIDCOM boss praised the contributions of diaspora Nigerians, noting their growing interest in investing and engaging in nation-building. She emphasized that the commission has made significant strides in prioritizing the diaspora population and thinking outside the box to address their needs.
Dabiri-Erewa also proposed the establishment of a Diaspora Plaza, which would serve as a hub for Nigerians abroad to connect, engage with government officials, and learn about opportunities within the country. She expressed her commitment to supporting the diaspora community and harnessing their potential for Nigeria’s development.
However, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, Senator Victor Umeh, expressed reservations about Nigeria’s readiness for diaspora voting. He emphasized that the country must first tackle the challenges confronting its own electoral process before extending voting rights to Nigerians abroad.
Umeh warned that allowing diaspora voting without reliable data and systems in place could have grave consequences. He stressed the need for accurate documentation of Nigerians living abroad, which would enable the country to conduct credible elections.
Despite these concerns, Umeh assured that the committee would support NIDCOM financially to enable it to continue engaging the diaspora effectively. He emphasized the importance of the diaspora community to Nigeria’s development, highlighting their exposure to advanced cultures and efficient ways of doing things.
Umeh concluded by emphasizing the need for the government to explore and tap into the potential of the diaspora community. He expressed his commitment to working with NIDCOM to improve their budget and support their efforts in engaging the diaspora community.
