The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has disclosed that Nigerians in diaspora spent about ₦60 billion when they visited the country in December 2024.
She stated this at the 2025 budget defence session before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diapora in Abuja.
According to her, remittances alone by Nigerians in diaspora in the last five years have exceeded $90 billion.
She said, “You know, we have reached a stage where in the last five years, where we have shown that the diaspora is a powerful force and resource we cannot ignore.
“And, you know, they are the number one ambassadors of our country. They will help us change the narrative of our country.
“And in fact, all over the world, everybody now wants to have a Nigerian as a friend. So let’s seize the moment. We can take over the world, and we will.
“President Bola Tinubu has brought in reforms that everybody should support. Tackling insecurity, building infrastructure,, taking the hard decisions that will make Nigeria a better place.
“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.”
Dabiri-Erewa attributed that the large influx of diaspora Nigerians in December 2024 was the result of years of consistent interaction and engagement with the community.
According to the NIDCOM helmswoman, the commission is exploring innovative funding strategies, including working with the National Assembly committee on Diaspora to enhance its financial capacity.
She proposed the establishment of a Diaspora Plaza, which she said would serve as a hub for Nigerians abroad to connect, engage with government officials, and learn about opportunities within the country.