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Foreign Affairs, NIDCOM Forge Stronger Alliance to Drive Diaspora Investment, Formalise Remittances
By Iyojo Ameh
The Federal Government has moved to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) as part of efforts to harness the economic potential of Nigerians abroad through increased investment, formalised remittance flows and enhanced diaspora engagement.
The commitment was made on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, during a courtesy visit by NIDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and members of the Commission’s management team in Abuja.
Enikanolaiye said the renewed partnership is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foreign policy agenda, which places Development at the centre of the administration’s 4D Foreign Policy framework of Development, Democracy, Demography and Diaspora.
He said Nigeria’s foreign policy must deliver measurable benefits to citizens by supporting economic growth, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, job creation and poverty reduction.
“Our foreign policy must be people-centred. Development is about improving the lives of Nigerians through better infrastructure, healthcare, education, food security and opportunities for young people,” the Minister said.
He noted that democracy, Nigeria’s growing population and its vast diaspora community remain strategic assets capable of accelerating national development if effectively harnessed.
The Minister described President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as the government’s roadmap for economic transformation, adding that ongoing efforts to improve security were creating a more stable environment for investment and development.
On diaspora remittances, Enikanolaiye called for a more structured system to channel funds through formal financial institutions, saying this would improve transparency and enable government to better utilise diaspora contributions to the economy.
He also urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to work closely with NIDCOM, noting that every state has a significant diaspora population whose expertise and investments can support local development.
The Minister further advocated stronger partnerships to encourage technology transfer and medical expertise from Nigerians abroad, particularly in the health, education, agriculture and housing sectors.
Commending NIDCOM’s role in the evacuation and repatriation of Nigerians in distress, Enikanolaiye cited the recent return of stranded citizens from South Africa as an example of successful inter-agency collaboration involving the Ministry, Nigeria’s diplomatic mission, NIDCOM and other government institutions.
He also directed Nigerian missions abroad to improve consular services while promoting Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic interests.
Acknowledging funding constraints facing the Ministry, the Minister said efforts were underway to explore alternative revenue sources, including the strategic utilisation of properties owned by Nigerian missions overseas. He added that partnerships with the private sector would also be encouraged.
Enikanolaiye expressed confidence that stronger collaboration with NIDCOM would help address the increasing migration of skilled Nigerians, popularly known as the “Japa” phenomenon, by creating more opportunities for diaspora participation in national development.
Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa commended the Ministry for its support since the establishment of NIDCOM, describing the relationship as critical to the Commission’s achievements despite operational challenges.
She identified inadequate funding and the lack of permanent office accommodation among the Commission’s major constraints.
The NIDCOM Chairman also announced that preparations were underway for the fourth National Diaspora Merit Award, which will honour outstanding Nigerians making impactful contributions in their countries of residence.
According to her, many Nigerians abroad remain interested in investing at home, adding that work is ongoing to establish a Diaspora Trust Fund to facilitate greater investment and strengthen diaspora participation in national development.
Both the Ministry and NIDCOM reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration to improve services for Nigerians abroad and unlock the full economic and developmental potential of the country’s diaspora community.