The Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has urged Nigerians living abroad, especially in the United States of America, to prioritize investing in their home country, warning that foreign policies in some nations could force them to return home unexpectedly.
Engr. Sule Yakubu, representing NiDCOM Chairperson Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, delivered this message during a sensitization and advocacy program in Bauchi on Monday.
The event was organized to promote diaspora investment potential in Northeast Nigeria.
“You will never be a first-class citizen in your country or destination even if you stay there for a hundred years. It is here (Nigeria) that they are first-class citizens. So we have to tell them this message, that home is home. And to develop Nigeria, we need both those at home and those in the diaspora,” Yakubu said.
He made it know that Nigerians abroad possess resources, talent, skills, global exposure, and networks critical for the country’s development.
“Don’t kid yourself, one dollar is equivalent to N1,700 and by the time you have $500, if you come back here, you are already earning a million,” he added.
Yakubu also warned of the uncertainties in some foreign nations, saying, “When you are with President Trump, you better be careful. Because you could be on the next plane to Lagos or Abuja. So we need to remind them. We need to tell them that home is home.”
In addition, he highlighted the need to tap into Nigeria’s human and material resources for sustainable development.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, speaking at the event, announced the appointment of a Diaspora Focal Point Officer to attract investments from Nigerians abroad.
“I have directed the Diaspora Focal Point Officer (DFPO) of the State to establish a strong partnership with NiDCOM with a view to leveraging the willingness of the diaspora to support states to tap from the huge Diaspora investment potentials which have remained yet untapped,” Mohammed stated.
The Commission also commended diaspora Nigerians for remitting over $90 billion in the last five years, underscoring their significant contribution to the nation’s economy.
