The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Ms. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, revealed that Nigerians living abroad spent an estimated N60 billion during their visits to Nigeria in December 2024.
She made this disclosure during the 2025 budget defence session before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diaspora in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa attributed this significant spending to the consistent engagement efforts of NiDCOM, especially during the festive season.
In addition to this, she highlighted that remittances from Nigerians abroad over the last five years have surpassed $90 billion, showcasing the impact of the diaspora on the nation’s economy.
Dabiri-Erewa also proposed the creation of a Diaspora Plaza, a hub for Nigerians abroad to engage with government officials and explore opportunities within the country.
This initiative is part of efforts to further enhance diaspora engagement and facilitate investment in Nigeria.
In her address, she touched on the topic of diaspora voting, with Sen. Victor Umeh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, expressing concerns about Nigeria’s preparedness.
Umeh emphasised the need to first address challenges within the domestic electoral process before considering diaspora voting, citing concerns over data reliability and electoral integrity.
The importance of increasing funding for NiDCOM was also highlighted, with Umeh calling for more support for the commission’s activities.
He stressed that NiDCOM plays a crucial role in fostering connections between Nigerians abroad and the government and that additional funding would strengthen these efforts.
Dabiri-Erewa further praised President Bola Tinubu’s reforms, noting their potential to improve Nigeria’s global standing.
She also acknowledged the powerful economic contributions of the diaspora, calling them “the number one ambassadors” of Nigeria.
“They will help us change the narrative of our country,” she concluded, urging Nigerians abroad to seize opportunities for greater global influence.
