NIGERIANS ABROAD SPENT N60 BILLION DURING THEIR VISITS TO THE COUNTRY IN LAST DECEMBER- DIASPORA COMMISSION 17-01-25
By Sadiq Aminu Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NIDCOM, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has revealed that Nigerians living abroad spent about N60 billion during their visits to the country in December 2024.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa, who also disclosed that remittances alone in the last five years have exceeded $90 billion, described the expenditure as a testament to the diaspora’s growing impact on the Nigerian economy.
The Chairman NIDCOM stated this when she appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diaspora to defend the commission’s 2025 budget.
While praising the contributions of diaspora Nigerians and growing interest in investing and engaging in nation-building, she noted that over the last five years, the commission has made significant strides by thinking outside the box and prioritizing the diaspora population.
The NIDCOM Chairman who pointed out that President Bola Tinubu has brought in reforms that everybody should support, noted that tackling insecurity, building infrastructure, taking hard decisions are some of the bold steps by the President that will make Nigeria a better place.
She observed that the large influx of diaspora Nigerians in December 2024 was the result of years of consistent interaction and engagement with the community.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora, Senator Victor Umeh, who expressed reservations about Nigeria’s readiness for diaspora voting, warned that allowing Nigerians in the diaspora to vote without reliable data and systems in place could have grave consequences.
Senator Umeh, said Nigeria must first tackle the challenges confronting its own electoral process before thinking of extending such right to Nigerians in Diaspora.