Enikanolaiye, NIDCOM Deepen Partnership to Boost Diaspora Investment, Formalise Remittances

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to enhance diaspora engagement, formalise remittance inflows and address challenges facing Nigerians living abroad.

Enikanolaiye gave the assurance on Wednesday while receiving the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and members of the Commission’s management team during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

The Minister said the partnership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Policy, which prioritises Development alongside Democracy, Demography and Diaspora as key pillars for advancing Nigeria’s national interests.

According to him, development remains the central focus of the country’s foreign policy because it directly impacts the lives of Nigerians through job creation, infrastructure, healthcare, education and poverty reduction.

“Development is not abstract. It is about roads, hospitals, power, food security and opportunities for our youth. Our foreign policy must deliver tangible benefits to citizens,” he said.

He explained that democracy, Nigeria’s large population and its global diaspora community serve as critical drivers for achieving sustainable development.

The Minister also praised President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as the foundation for Nigeria’s economic transformation.

He said the administration’s progress in tackling insecurity was helping to restore confidence and create conditions for sustainable economic growth.

On diaspora remittances, Enikanolaiye stressed the need to establish a structured framework that captures inflows through formal channels, noting that billions of dollars sent home by Nigerians abroad should be better tracked to maximise their contribution to national development.

He urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to work closely with NIDCOM, saying every state has a diaspora population that can contribute to local economic development.

The Minister also called for stronger collaboration in healthcare, education, agriculture and housing, urging the government to leverage the expertise and technological knowledge of Nigerians in the diaspora.

He commended NIDCOM for its role in facilitating the repatriation of stranded Nigerians and acknowledged President Tinubu’s support in securing the recent return of Nigerian citizens from South Africa.

According to him, the successful evacuation was made possible through coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria’s mission in South Africa, NIDCOM and other government agencies.

Enikanolaiye further directed Nigerian missions abroad to improve service delivery to citizens while promoting Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests.

Addressing funding challenges, he disclosed that the Ministry would explore alternative revenue sources, including leveraging assets and properties owned by Nigerian missions overseas, while also welcoming private-sector partnerships.

He added that closer collaboration between the Ministry and NIDCOM would also help address the growing wave of emigration, popularly referred to as the “Japa” phenomenon.

Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa outlined NIDCOM’s mandate and expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s support since the Commission was established.

She acknowledged that although the Commission faced significant challenges in its early years, cooperation with the Ministry had been instrumental to its achievements.

The NIDCOM Chairman identified inadequate funding and limited office accommodation as some of the Commission’s major constraints.

She also announced that the fourth edition of the National Diaspora Merit Award would hold later this year to recognise outstanding Nigerians making significant contributions abroad.

Dabiri-Erewa noted that many Nigerians in the diaspora remain eager to invest in the country and disclosed that work is ongoing to establish a Diaspora Trust Fund to facilitate greater investment and development.

Both the Ministry and NIDCOM concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation and creating a more enabling environment for Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute meaningfully to national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.