The National Assembly has stepped up efforts to give Nigerians living abroad the right to vote in national elections, as the federal government deepens its engagement with the diaspora.
This renewed campaign was highlighted at the Nigerian Stakeholders Engagement on Diaspora Governance (NiSEDiG 2025) in Abuja, where lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to inclusivity and unveiled new digital platforms aimed at strengthening ties with citizens abroad.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddin Abbas, announced the development on Monday while launching the Nigerians in Diaspora Response (NiDRes) application and website and declaring open the NiSEDiG 2025 in Abuja.
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Abbas, who was represented by Patrick Umoh, the member representing Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Accra Federal Constituency, described the bill as a bold step towards strengthening democratic participation and ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, contributes to nation building.
“The 10th House of Representatives considers diaspora engagement as a national priority in line with its legislative agenda of inclusion, accountability and economic reforms,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Tochukwu Chinedu Okyere, said the NiSEDiG 2025 initiative was conceived to create a coordinated policy framework that integrates institutions, law and technology to improve diaspora governance.
“The newly launched NiDRes app and website was designed to make it easier for Nigerians abroad to access government services, communicate with embassies and missions around the world and respond to national issues in real time,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, highlighted the remarkable progress made in diaspora engagement since the establishment of the Commission six years ago.
He noted that Nigeria-diaspora relations have recorded unprecedented achievements in areas such as health, education, agriculture, ICT, transportation and volunteerism. According to him, the country has now entered a new phase of strengthening diaspora engagement to strengthen national development.
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Dabiri-Erewa recalled that the National Diaspora Policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council on April 28, 2021, provides the guiding framework for integrating diaspora participation into national planning and development.
He also referenced the Diaspora Data Mapping Portal launched in June 2021 to support data collection and informed decision making on issues concerning Nigerians abroad.
The NiDCOM chief said diaspora remittances remain Nigeria's most important source of foreign exchange, amounting to US$23.81 billion in 2019, about six per cent of the country's gross domestic product.
He cited several NiDCOM-led initiatives that have deepened diaspora engagement, including the National Diaspora Day celebrated annually on July 25, the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS), which links investors abroad with local opportunities, National Town Hall meetings that enable direct interaction between the President and Nigerians abroad, and the National Diaspora Merit Awards which recognize Nigerians. Recognizes outstanding achievements by people. Migrant.
He also mentioned the Diaspora Quarterly Lecture Series which addresses issues affecting Nigerians abroad, as well as NiDCOM's collaboration with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Humanitarian Affairs to assist in the repatriation of distressed nationals.
Dabiri-Erewa identified persistent challenges such as limited funding, inadequate office accommodation and the urgent need to amend the NiDCOM Act to ensure a sustainable financing mechanism through diaspora remittance fees.
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“It is important to address these challenges to sustain the progress already achieved and enable NiDCOM to serve as a strong bridge between the government and Nigerians abroad,” he stressed.
The NiSEDiG 2025 engagement and NiDRes app launch, he said, symbolizes Nigeria’s renewed commitment to building a more structured, inclusive and technology-driven diaspora engagement system.
The event was attended by Nigerians in Diaspora Organizations (NIDOs), members of academia, students and youth groups, Nigerian Immigration Service, various ministries, departments and agencies of government as well as State Diaspora Focal Point officers.
