Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has disclosed that Nigerians in the diaspora spent about N60 billion during their visits to the country in December 2024.
She revealed this during the 2025 budget defence session before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diaspora in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa attributed the significant diaspora spending during the festive season to consistent engagement efforts by NIDCOM.
She said there was potential for such spending to grow, as the surface was still being scratched.
The chairman also noted that remittances by Nigerians abroad over the last five years were in excess of $90 billion.
“We have 17 million Nigerians in the diaspora. And how much did this generate for the growth of the economy? Remittances alone in the last five years have been over $90 billion,” she stated.
To enhance engagement, Dabiri-Erewa proposed the establishment of a Diaspora Plaza for Nigerians abroad to explore opportunities in the country.
“It will serve as a hub for Nigerians abroad to connect, engage with government officials, and learn about opportunities within the country.”
She also highlighted ongoing efforts to secure innovative funding strategies with the National Assembly Committee on Diaspora to boost the commission’s financial capacity.
Addressing the feasibility of diaspora voting, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, Sen. Victor Umeh, expressed concerns about Nigeria’s preparedness, emphasising the need to first address challenges in the domestic electoral process
“We must tell ourselves the truth, we must get properly organised before we open up to people voting from outside Nigeria. Let us manage our own elections at home first, before we add diaspora voting.
“If you are not prepared with your data that is reliable, you can finish all the elections in Nigeria, and you say, I am waiting for votes that will come from America. Somebody will throw three million votes from there, or from Asia, and before you know it, the courts will not have peace,” he stated.
Umeh also emphasised the need for increased funding for NIDCOM, citing its pivotal role in engaging the diaspora.
