The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has revealed that Nigerians living abroad spent around ₦60 billion during their visits to the country in December 2024.
She also stated that remittances from the diaspora have exceeded $90 billion over the past five years, highlighting their growing importance to Nigeria’s economy.
Dabiri-Erewa shared these details while addressing the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diaspora as part of the commission’s 2025 budget defense.
She praised the contributions of Nigerians abroad, noting that their investments in local businesses and communities are helping to drive national development. She also mentioned plans to establish a “Diaspora Plaza” to serve as a hub for engagement between the diaspora and the government.
Speaking on diaspora voting, Senator Victor Umeh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, said Nigeria must first address issues with its electoral system and ensure reliable data before allowing citizens abroad to vote.
He warned that introducing diaspora voting without proper systems could cause problems during elections.
