Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has confirmed that at least 20 million citizens, largely youths, are overseas.
She disclosed this at the First Thematic Meeting of the Rabat Process in Nigeria, comprising delegates from 57 European and African countries themed, ‘Youth, Innovation and Education: Driving the Future of Migration,’ co-chaired by Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain, yesterday in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa revealed that these 20 million Nigerian migrants attract home yearly remittances of $20 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Her words: “The over 20 million Nigerians in the Diaspora are a major component of the overall development, and thus, are an economic force that cannot be ignored.
“This group of persons sends about $20 billion in Home Remittances to Nigeria yearly. This contribution is about 5.7 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and eleven times the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the year. They are well educated, resilient, resource-endowed, exposed to development, alternative development paradigm, exposed to global best practices and patriotic in terms of maintaining filial relationships with Nigeria.
She observed that the impact of those in the Diaspora on Nigeria cuts across various sectors, ranging from agriculture, education, health, ICT, real estate, transportation, sports, to trade and investments.
The NiDCOM boss, therefore, called for the strengthening of laws and prosecution of human traffickers and other menaces that encourage irregular migration.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, noted that Nigeria is prepared to bring a fresh perspective and change the narrative on migration and irregular migration.
He said that President Bola Tinubu has shown commitment to steering the Rabat Process towards meaningful action and people first strategy. Yilwatda assured that Nigeria, as the Chair of the Rabat Process, “embraces this responsibility with a vision that is inclusive, development-focused and youth-centred.”
Speaking on the need for stakeholders to ensure that migration is not weaponised or used as an instrument of oppression, Head, EU Delegation to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, urged that migrants must not serve as scapegoats for crimes or economic shortcomings.
“Respect for human rights and the rule of law, including international laws, protection of migrants in particular the most vulnerable, against all forms of exploitation, trafficking and ensuring their basic rights, are not trampled”.
These are the essential principles and objectives that unite the members of the Rabat Process,” he said.Ambassador at Large for Migration Affairs, Kingdom of Spain, Pilar Jimenez, explained that her country expects to have observations from African professionals and leaders from diverse sectors and backgrounds, whose insightful remarks prompt Spain to improve its relationship with the continent.
