Our Reporter

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa said on Thursday in Abuja that migration is a natural phenomenon that cannot be stopped.

She, however, added that managed migration must be encouraged, for positive impact on the migrant, the country of origin and the host country.

Dabiri-Erewa stated this at a lecture she delivered on “Migration, Diaspora and Africa’s Development” at the National Defence College for participants of Course 29 in Abuja.

The NIDCOM boss maintained that the Diaspora Phenomena is the product of legitimate migration, hence the need for regular (legal) migration as opposed to irregular (illegal) migration.

She further stated that Nigeria is now experiencing the feminisation of migration, a situation where more women are getting involved than men in labour migration.

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She said Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission is in high-level talks with countries, especially in Europe, to mainstream migration issues for a win-win situation for both destination and departure countries.

The NIDCOM boss stated that key drivers of migration include security, economic, environmental, socio-political and other pull and push factors.

On Nigeria Diaspora Population, Dabiri-Erewa said an estimated 17 million Nigerians are scattered all over the world accomplishing excellent feats in medicine, health, high tech, education, economy and many others to their host countries and country of origin.

In 2019 alone, Nigerians in the Diaspora remitted about $25 billion to shore up the economy.

She added that the Commission is ready to act as a bridge between Nigeria and its Diasporas to harness the abundant human capital, skills and talents to build a formidable nation.

She gave assurances that the Commission has its contact Desks in international and governmental agencies to liaise and speed up intervention processes.

Meanwhile, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Makanju Mackson Kadiri, (Gss), commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the wisdom in establishing the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission to carter for the needs of millions of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The Commandant and participants also commended the NIDCOM boss for her passion, dedication and commitment to duty and promised that the National Defence College will always be one of the frontier supporters of the Commission and its objectives.