Nigerians In The Diaspora Are Our Best Assets- Senate Committee
Sen. (Dr) Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Vice Chairman,
Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGO’s on Thursday described the
Nigerians in the Diaspora as the greatest assets of the country with
their contributions to the nation’s development.
functions to the headquarters of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission
(NIDCOM), Abuja said the Nigerians abroad are diverse in their
respective contributions to country’s development.
The Senate Committee was received by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa,
Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM and her Management team.
He said that the Nigerians in the Diaspora constitutes a significant
proportion of the population, not in terms of number alone but in terms
of their importance to the economy of the country.
The excited Sen. Oloriegbe said that despite the paucity of funds
allocated to NIDCOM, the Commission has been able to annex the
potentials of the Nigerians abroad and also lived to expectations.
He said the committee visit was basically to conduct oversight functions
on the Commission as required by law and see further areas of
interventions.
” I am happy that we are the first Committee to oversight the Commission
after it came into existence last year
“This Commission looks so small but the responsibility put on it is very
big, not only big in terms of the volume but very critical and important
both for the country in terms of security and touching the life of the
individuals especially the citizens abroad.
He assured Hon. Dabiri-Erewa that the committee would do everything
possible to make the job of the commission easy for them through
necessary legal framework and required amendment to the NIDCOM Act.
Oloriegbe said such amendments would enable the country to tap more into
the Diaspora resources for the overall benefits of the country.
Responding, the NIDCOM Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa thanked the
Committee for being there for the Commission during its trying period,
saying its top priority is working on the Database of Nigerians in the
Diaspora. and encouraging diaspora investments
She said that the National Diaspora Policy, which had been validated by
all stakeholders and development partners, had been sent to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs for presentation to the Federal Executive
Council for approval as that will solve some of the challenges
confronting the administration of Diaspora affairs in Nigeria.
She listed other activities of the commission in the last one year of
its creation as holding National Diaspora Day, Nigerians Diaspora
Investment Summit, the Badagry Door of Return and inauguration of the
State Focal point officers.,
Others, according to her, include signing of MoU with some stakeholders,
Investment summit with Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, evacuation of stranded
Nigerians abroad, Diaspora Housing project with Federal Mortgage Bank
and collaboration with some international organisations.
She also requested for the intervention of the committee in the areas of
increased funding of the Commission, reduction of charges charged by
IMTOs on remittances by the diasporans and support for the commission
to have its own office accommodation.
Dabiri-Erewa also solicited for the support of the Senate Committee on
legislation to make the travelling of Nigerians abroad seeking for jobs
to be legalised in line with international labour laws, thus eradicating
the human trafficking of Nigerians abroad, adding that illegal migration
can be made legal with the right laws put in place and effective
multi-agency collaboration .
In his remarks, Sen. Abba Morro, who was also on the entourage,commended
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and her team for being dynamic despite paucity
of funds, describing her as “ a comrade” , always determined to achieve
results , against all odds.
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