By Tony Icheku


The United Nations has  ranked Nigeria amongst the top 10 countries with Diaspora Nigerians making   remittances totalling  $21.9 billion to the Country in 2023.


President Bola Tinubu speaking on Thursday stated that Nigeria ranks amongst the top 10 countries with most travelled citizens on the globe and acknowledged  the complexity and the scale of migration among Nigerian citizens.


Speaking at the opening of the 2024 National Diaspora Day Celebrations, with the theme "Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development, Tinubu,  represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, acknowledged the significant contributions of Nigerian citizens living abroad to the country's development.


The President,  citing data, noted that 169 million international migrant workers left their countries of origin primarily to seek work, "with Nigeria having a significant diaspora population.


He added: “Currently, the United Nations ranked Nigeria amongst the top 10 countries with the most international migrants,” even as he shared his personal experience, having lived in the United States before returning to Nigeria.


He appealed to Nigerians in diaspora to bring back their experiences to contribute to national development. 


The President highlighted the historical context of migration, from the transatlantic slave trade to the current global mobility competing for talent and skills.


Tinubu identified the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and presidential town hall meetings with diaspora communities, as some of the programmes aimed at engaging the diaspora in national development.


 He said that the positive effects of global immigration includes huge remittances of funds to middle-income countries, with Nigeria receiving $21.9 billion in 2023.


The President encouraged Nigerians in diaspora to continue contributing to critical sectors of the economy and commended the Central Bank's reforms, which have increased Forex and stabilized the currency.


The President also emphasized the importance of Nigerians, both at home and abroad, developing their country and encouraged participation in programmes with tremendous impact.


Speaking earlier, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, revaled that Nigerians in Diaspora remitted about  $100 billion from diaspora remittances in the last five years. 


Dabiri-Erewa said the contribution of the Diaspora community to national development cannot be over-emphasized. 


No fewer than 1,000 participants are expected at the 2-day 2024 diaspora day celebrations. 


She said: "Let me also state that the contributions of the Diaspora community to national development cannot be over-emphasized. 


"According to the World Bank statistics recently, Nigerian Diaspora has remitted over 99 billion US dollars into the system in the last five years. This is huge and highly commendable.


Dabiri-Erewa stressed that Diaspora is one area that needed to pay more attention to. 


She said, "So, this is a sector that we need to pay more attention we haven’t pay attention to it We need to do a lot more. So we have to tap into the enormous resources we have with the diaspora.


"We are still scratching the surface. And that's what I will say."


On the much expected diaspora voting bill, she said the Bill which is been sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas has already scaled the first reading, noting that this is a huge plus for the administration.


She said: "It is worthy of note that the long awaited Diaspora Voting, which has been a consistent topic of discussion among the Diaspora community, has now passed the first reading in the Parliament, which is a huge plus for this administration. 


"The Bill was sponsored by no other persons than Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Hon. Sadiq Ango Abdulahi from Kano state. "


 Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas said Nigerian Government was committed to Diaspora Engagement for national development. 


Abbas who was represented by his deputy, Benjamin Kalu announced plans to explore ways to grant voting rights to Nigerians in the diaspora, recognizing their relevance to nation-building. 


He said a constitutional amendment bill has been presented to the House of Representatives, and the government is committed to making progress on this issue.


The government he said  acknowledged the significant contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora to the country's development, particularly in areas such as education, agriculture, ICT, transportation, and healthcare. 


He also expressed gratitude to the diaspora community for their efforts and encouraged them to continue making a positive impact.


On his part, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio  acknowledged the brain drain phenomenon, where talented youth seek opportunities abroad.


He therefore stressed the need to create an environment that fosters technological growth and entices skilled professionals to return home.


 The National Assembly, he said stands ready to enact necessary laws to support the return of skilled professionals and contribute to the country's growth. He also urged Nigerians in the diaspora to remain committed to Nigeria's progress and invest in local initiatives.


The National Diaspora Day 2024 provided a platform for Nigerians in the diaspora to engage with the government and discuss ways to drive national development. The event underscored the government's commitment to diaspora engagement and its recognition of the community's significant contributions to Nigeria's growth.


The National Diaspora Day 2024 provided a platform for Nigerians in the diaspora to engage with the government and discuss ways to drive national development. The event underscored the government's commitment to diaspora engagement and its recognition of the community's significant contributions to Nigeria's growth.