The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission( NIDCOM), to strengthen diaspora engagement, formalise remittance flows, and address challenges confronting Nigerians abroad.
The Minister made the pledge while receiving the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and her management team during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja. The Minister restated the Ministry’s focus on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Policy of Demography, Democracy, and Diaspora, with Development placed at the forefront. He explained that Development remains the top priority because it has a direct bearing on the lives of the Nigerian people through job creation, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and poverty reduction.
Speaker further, he stated that development is not abstract. It is about roads, hospitals, power, food security, and opportunities for our youth. Our foreign policy must deliver tangible benefits to citizens,” the Minister said. He added that Democracy, Demography, and Diaspora are critical enablers that support Development, ensuring Nigeria leverages its population, democratic credentials, and global diaspora network for national growth.
The Minister commended President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as the focal point for Nigeria’s development. “We can see visibly the success in winning the war against insecurity, which is a clear demonstration that the Tinubu’s administration is at the political standpoint of getting Nigeria’s economy on track. This is the foundation for sustainable development,” he stated.
On diaspora remittances, the Minister stressed the need to build a structured system that tracks inflows and moves transactions from informal to formal channels. He called for the active involvement of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum in ensuring partnership with NIDCOM, noting that every state has a diaspora population and stands to benefit from coordinated engagement. He also called for raising the bar on medical importation and technology exchange from the diaspora, urging deeper collaboration in health, education, housing, and agriculture to harness diaspora expertise.
The Minister commended NIDCOM for its role in the repatriation of Nigerians, and thanked President Tinubu for efforts that secured the return of citizens from South Africa. He said “ we enjoyed excellent coordination with our Mission in South Africa, NIDCOM and various government agency, It was Nigeria’s assignment cordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with excellency support from NIDCOM. He charged Nigerian missions abroad to “double up” in service delivery to citizens and in promoting Nigeria’s interests.
Acknowledging funding constraints, the Minister said the Ministry would explore alternative means to raise funds, including leveraging properties across missions abroad. He also welcomed private sector partnerships to support the Ministry and NIDCOM.He noted that closer MFA-NIDCOM collaboration is key to addressing the “Japa syndrome.”
Earlier, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa briefed the Minister on NIDCOM’s mandate and appreciated his support since the Commission’s formation. She noted that although the early days were tough, cooperation with the Ministry has serve as bedrock for the growing success achieved so far.
She listed major challenges facing NIDCOM, including lack of funding and office space.
Dabiri-Erewa announced that the 4th Edition of the National Diaspora Merit Award will hold this year to celebrate outstanding Nigerians abroad. She said the diaspora is eager to invest at home and highlighted ongoing work on diaspora trust fund.
Both parties concluded with a renewed pledge to work together and advance Nigeria. The Minister commended the diaspora for its contributions to national development and restated the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for diaspora participation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Signed:
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, anipr
Spokesperson
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja
Wednesday 22, July 2026
