Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has again assured of the Federal Government’s determination to enhance cooperation with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to boost diaspora engagement, formalise remittance inflows and tackle challenges facing Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Enikanolaiye gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and members of the Commission’s management team during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The Minister said the partnership is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Policy that considers Development as important as Democracy, Demography and Diaspora as the 4 pillars to promote Nigeria’s national interest.
He said development will remain the priority of the country’s foreign policy as it has direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians in terms of job creation, infrastructure, health care, education and poverty alleviation.
“Development is not an abstraction. It is about roads, hospitals, power, food security and opportunities for our young people. “Our foreign policy has to deliver tangible benefits for our citizens,” he remarked.
He said Nigeria’s vast population, its worldwide diaspora community and democracy are essential drivers to sustained growth.
The Minister also commended President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as the bedrock of Nigeria’s economic transformation.
He said the administration’s advances toward security were helping to rebuild confidence and provide conditions for sustainable economic growth.
On diaspora remittances, Enikanolaiye underlined the need for structured framework to capture inflows through formal channels. He noted that billions of dollars sent home by Nigerians overseas should be better tracked to maximise its contribution to national development.
He asked the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to work hand in glove with the NIDCOM, adding that every state has a diaspora community that might contribute to local economic development.
The Minister also called for more cooperation in health, education, agriculture and housing, urging the government to tap into the expertise and technology know-how of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
“Let me commend NIDCOM for playing a part in the repatriation of stranded Nigerians. We also want to acknowledge the support of Mr President, President Tinubu, in the recent return of Nigerian citizens from South Africa,” he said.
He said the effective evacuation was made possible via the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Mission in South Africa, NIDCOM and other government agencies.
Enikanolaiye also directed Nigerian missions abroad to enhance service delivery to citizens and promote Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests.
On the issue of funding, he said the Ministry would examine other sources of revenue, including assets and properties owned by Nigerian missions abroad, as well as private-sector partnerships.
He further said that further coordination between the Ministry and NIDCOM will also help in tackling the growing wave of emigration colloquially called the “Japa” phenomenon.
Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa, had explained the mandate of NIDCOM and appreciated the cooperation of the Ministry since the establishment of the Commission.
She knew that the Commission had experienced serious difficulties in the early years and that cooperation with the Ministry had been vital to its success.
The NIDCOM Chairman pointed out some of the primary constraints of the Commission to include low funds and restricted office accommodation.
She also announced that the fourth edition of National Diaspora Merit Award would hold later in the year to recognise outstanding Nigerians making significant contributions abroad.
Dabiri-Erewa said many Nigerians in the diaspora still want to invest in the country, disclosing that efforts were on course to establish a Diaspora Trust Fund to enable increased investment and development.
The discussion ended with both the Ministry and NIDCOM reiterating their commitment to deepen cooperation and provide a more favourable environment for Nigerians in the diaspora to make meaningful contribution to national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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