…Commend FG on passage of Diaspora bond
Some Nigerians residing in China on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to involve them in any bilateral relations so that Nigeria can benefit more.
According to them, such platform will enable them make some expertise inputs that would benefit the country.
The President of Nigerians in the Diaspora (NIDO) in the People’s Republic of China, Bryan Akiri made the call while paying courtesy visit to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Forign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Eruwa in Abuja.
He said “The backdrop behind the formation of NIDO China was the desire to play a constructive role in national development.
“We understand that every great nation was not built by outsiders, we know every great nation was not built only by even the elected or public officers. We have done a bit of history checking and realized that stakeholders come from all around the nation including the citizens of the country both local and those outside.
“We decided to stop sitting down on the sideline and step in to contribute our own quota to national development. For a very long time, the Nigeria image in China has not been what we desire and we have not been able to organize ourselves in a way to tell our own story, to do things that will promote the good of our nation Nigeria.
“From our strategic point of view as private sector participants in China, we have a different point of view. So, in the areas of policy as it relates to Nigeria/China bilateral relations, we could also chip in in terms of making analysis on certain particular areas because we see things differently, we are engaged in day to day lives, we know the struggles, we know the victories, we know the challenges,” he said
The Former Speaker of London Borough of Hackney, Sade Etti, who also paid Dabiri-Erewa, courtesy visit in Abuja, said that she was impressed with the changes so far carried out by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, especially on the fight against corruption and the passage of the Diaspora bond by the National Assembly.
She said, “I have to say a big thank you for the fact that the Diaspora bill has been signed which she started about six years ago and we have the Diaspora bond as well. It clearly shows it is a government that listens, it is a government that has genuine interest of Nigerians in Diaspora, no doubt about that and it clearly shows to me that it is a good way forward that we a good voice and people listening to us.
“I clearly believe that whatever the issues that we have in Diaspora, it is a good place to come forward and also to let them know what we feel and we now have a listening voice that listens to us.
“When you are talking about skills, people are beginning to have new skills, people are beginning to consume things locally and beginning to see the importance of our local economy and with the programme that the government is doing and I clearly want to say, these are the way forward for our economy.
“The agricultural programme is there, using locally made goods. The soap is locally made no doubt about that, creating employment. I have seen so many in Lagos and which wasn’t there before and that is the way forward.
“I know that a lot of Nigerians are complaining but honestly we have to endure, it affects all of us but definitely this is the way forward. We have to support the government. With the Diaspora bill, it clearly gives us the room for people to come from within to bring in their skills, their resources which will be beneficial to our economy.” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa said that the Federal Government’s policy of patronizing made in Nigeria goods by the citizens is yielding positive results as some citizens of the United Kingdom now order for Nigeria locally made suits.
According to her, the economic challenges the administration met on ground has helped it to look inwards.
She also advised the youths to be good ambassadors of the country and identify with the governance at their home country.
She said, “We have people like you in the Diaspora that are doing great things anywhere in the world. The passion that you also bring to your country is very encouraging. There were some who came to the UK and they decided that they are going to sow their suits in Nigeria.
“These are British citizens who decided that the suits they got in Nigeria were better than where they were coming from and got our locally made designers to make these suits for them and they do them in dozens.
“So in a way, we are beginning to look inwards. Yes, the challenging time will bring out the best in all of us and that is why I appeal that we should support this administration. It is going to be tough and rough but we are seeing gradual positive changes and development.” she said
The groups later met briefly with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo before leaving the State House, Abuja.