Diaspora Nigerians remit $90b, testify their key role in nation-building
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“We have reached a stage where, in the last five years, we have shown that the diaspora is a powerful force and resources and we cannot ignore them.
“We have 17 million of them. And how much did this generate for the growth of the economy? Remittances alone in the last five years have been over $90 billion” – Dabiri-Erewa
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Nigerians living abroad have remitted more than $90 billion back to the country in the past five years and spent about N60 billion during their home visits in December 2024 alone, Abike Dabiri-Erewa has disclosed.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Chairman announced the figures when she appeared for the Commission’s 2025 budget defence before the the National Assembly (NASS) Joint Committee on Diaspora in Abuja.
She said there are 17 million Nigerians living overseas and the $90 billion remittance testifies their impact on the home economy, applauding them and their growing interest in investing and engaging in nation-building.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that NiDCOM has also made significant strides by thinking outside the box and prioritising the diaspora population.
“We have reached a stage where, in the last five years, we have shown that the diaspora is a powerful force and resources and we cannot ignore them,” she said.
“We have 17 million of them. And how much did this generate for the growth of the economy? Remittances alone in the last five years have been over $90 billion.
“This December, of course, you know, it is not less than N60 billion in what they spent coming to Nigeria. It could grow but it is just scratching the surface.”
According to her, the large influx of diaspora Nigerians in December 2024 was the result of years of consistent interaction and engagement with the community.
Senate Diaspora Committee Chairman Victor Umeh stressed the need to support NiDCOM financially to enable it continue effective engagement with diasporans.
He assured that the committee would fight for more funds for NiDCOM in the 2025 budget because diasporans are important to the country as they are exposed to advanced societies and more efficient ways of doing things.
– Daily Trust.
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