Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, revealed that remittances from the diaspora have exceeded $90 billion over the past five years.
In December 2024 alone, remittances amounted to no less than N60 billion, highlighting the significant role of the diaspora in Nigeria’s development and the potential for further growth.
Dabiri-Erewa made these remarks on Thursday while defending the commission’s 2025 budget before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diaspora. She urged Nigerians living abroad to help improve the country’s image, noting that people globally now desire to have Nigerians as friends. “We’ve reached a stage where the diaspora has proven to be a powerful resource, and we cannot ignore them. They are the number one ambassadors of our country. They will help us change the narrative of Nigeria. In fact, all over the world, everyone now wants to have a Nigerian as a friend. Let’s seize this moment. We can take over the world, and we will,” she stated.
She praised President Bola Tinubu for implementing reforms to tackle insecurity, build infrastructure, and make Nigeria a better place, urging widespread support for these changes. “We have 17 million Nigerians abroad. How much has this contributed to the growth of the economy? In the last five years, remittances alone have exceeded $90 billion. In December, the amount spent coming to Nigeria was not less than N60 billion. This could grow, but we are just scratching the surface,” she added.
In December 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria reported that diaspora remittances processed through International Money Transfer Operators reached $4.22 billion between January and October 2024, nearly doubling the $2.62 billion recorded during the same period in 2023.
Dabiri-Erewa also reflected on her December 2024 meetings with several diaspora Nigerians interested in business and human development, emphasizing the abundance of future opportunities. “I hosted many Nigerians in December. My house turned into a hosting venue. These young Nigerians have money to invest, and they are eager to do so. Some are engaging in local businesses. One of the most impressive projects we’re working on involves training young people in digital technology. We haven’t formalized this yet, but we will this year, so we can fully appreciate what the diaspora has done,” she concluded.
Senator Victor Umeh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, advised that the issue of diaspora voting be postponed until all necessary preparations are in place. He stressed the need to first improve elections in Nigeria before allowing diaspora participation. “It’s a question I addressed in Canada and South Africa, where I met Nigerians. We must get properly organized before we open up voting to people abroad. Let’s first manage elections at home before adding diaspora voting.” Umeh added that NiDCOM is making efforts to capture accurate data on Nigerians living abroad to ensure reliable voting information in the future.
