The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to deepen diaspora engagement, formalise remittance flows, and tackle challenges confronting Nigerians living abroad.
Speaking while receiving the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and her management team during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja, Enikanolaiye said the partnership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Policy, which prioritised Development alongside Democracy, Demography and Diaspora.
The Minister explained that development remains the cornerstone of the administration’s foreign policy because of its direct impact on the lives of Nigerians through job creation, infrastructure, healthcare, education and poverty reduction.
According to him, development is about delivering tangible benefits such as better roads, hospitals, electricity, food security and opportunities for young people, while democracy, demography and the diaspora serve as key drivers of national growth.
Enikanolaiye also praised President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the administration’s efforts to improve security and stabilise the economy have laid the foundation for sustainable development.
On diaspora remittances, the Minister called for a structured framework to move transactions from informal to formal channels, noting that improved tracking would maximise the economic benefits of funds sent home by Nigerians abroad. He also urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to partner with NIDCOM, stressing that every state has a diaspora population that can contribute to development.
The Minister advocated stronger collaboration in healthcare, education, housing and agriculture to encourage technology transfer and greater investment from Nigerians in the diaspora. He also commended NIDCOM for its role in the repatriation of stranded Nigerians, particularly those recently evacuated from South Africa, describing the exercise as a successful collaboration between the Ministry, Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in South Africa, NIDCOM and other government agencies.
He further directed Nigerian missions abroad to improve service delivery to citizens while promoting the country’s interests. Acknowledging funding challenges, Enikanolaiye said the Ministry would explore alternative revenue sources, including leveraging properties owned by Nigerian missions overseas and encouraging private sector partnerships. He added that stronger collaboration between the Ministry and NIDCOM would also help address the growing “Japa” phenomenon.
Earlier, NIDCOM Chairman/CEO Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa thanked the Minister for his support and described the Ministry’s cooperation as the foundation for the Commission’s achievements since its establishment.
She identified inadequate funding and lack of office accommodation as major challenges facing the Commission and announced that the fourth edition of the National Diaspora Merit Award would be held later this year to honour outstanding Nigerians in the diaspora.
Dabiri-Erewa also disclosed that work is ongoing on a Diaspora Trust Fund, noting that many Nigerians abroad remain eager to invest in the country’s development.
Both the Ministry and NIDCOM concluded the meeting with a renewed commitment to strengthening collaboration to enhance diaspora participation in national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
