Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), spoke about the National Assembly and its preparation for the vote and diaspora issues.
Why doesn’t President Muhammadu Buhari pressure the National Assembly to pass the Diaspora Vote Bill?
You know that the President cannot go to Parliament and say, he will have to; you have to do that. He has said separately that he is not opposed to the diaspora vote. I believe that what we want to do is to continue appealing to the National Assembly. I perceive their fears and feelings, namely, that our choices may not yet be perfect; we are still experimenting. What I’m saying is that we want to sit down, analyze those fears and see how we can overcome them.
So, I don’t think that the president has anything to do with that, despite being the president’s closest friend to the diaspora. I hope that the National Assembly becomes the highest Diaspora-friendly Assembly and also gets its own title. So even for the Diaspora itself, we told them to “make it your agenda. ” Whenever you see MPs talking to you and looking good; it’s about lobbying, looking good, and explaining. These fears, for example, they asked me, if the diasporas vote, where do the counts and the answer is simple. Everyone comes from a state. So if a Lapasssian votes in London, he passes the Lapasss votes. It is the CENI that will decide, not the National Assembly. May the National Assembly give them the strength to release the vote of the diaspora when the infrastructure is ready. So that doesn’t mean that INEC will do it tomorrow, or even in 2027. INEC can just say, “Okay, I need to do it in one country”; It is when the infrastructure is in good condition and they say they can. So I think it’s more about lobbying and advocacy, which is what we do in Parliament.
With $20 billion in diaspora remittances peaking at N20 billion a year, what has your investment been like in Nigeria for the past 3 years?
In terms of remittances, the $20 billion is for 2021. So, in 2017, we have $17 billion; in 2019, $25 billion and last year, $20 billion. So COVID-19 is even bigger than we thought it was going through and it comes out every year; World Bank, IOM, Central Bank, is on site. That’s right for a year. Then, in terms of investments, as I said, when we do our third, the next Diaspora Investment Summit. It is that we do not need to cite false figures, we spoke to the Nigerian Disaporan Summit. Then, through the next summit, you will be able to communicate about genuine genuine numbers.
How do you plan to prevent the migration of Nigerians to those hostile countries where they are killed and how do you hope to get justice for them?
This is an inter-institutional collaboration. It’s a great realization. But I was surprised that someone told me last week that I had been in a position I didn’t know; we want to make everyone seek to hide under “we didn’t know”; anyone who doesn’t know what to do if they pass all those countries and get into trouble are just pretending not to know. Agents are a challenge because some pass through agents, and you know, NAPTIP has noticed my traffic, but some just want to get through. Some will tell you that their destination is and I tell them that if it is Array you have to go through there legally, not illegally. But we all realize our destiny correctly, because it becomes more and more difficult. More than a part, the other people will scream for help, don’t listen about it. So I return it to you; How can it help raise awareness of the risks of abnormal migration?Immigration did the best it could, NAPTIP, Refugee Commission. There has to be a more intentional resolution to put it front and center. Honestly, there are some really pathetic stories.
How has conflict reporting affected Nigeria’s symbol and what recommendation do you have for the Nigerian media about it?
When we pass out, even ourselves, someone goes through social networks lands in some other country and rolls saying “I left the zoo”. This user is attacking you; he does not attack Buhari; it does not attack the passvernment. He insults me, you and me. You don’t have to love me; but don’t destroy your country. The moment he publishes negative reports about Nigeria, he is destroying the entire country. And, ultimately, it has an effect on all of us. Now it is more difficult for one and both to obtain visas. Whether it goes to Canada, whether it goes to the United Arab Emirates, even if it goes to the United States, now it’s complicated as Nigerians. It’s not because of Buhari, it’s because of what you say about yourselves and the way we behave. So we want to unite and say that the bad habit is not acceptable. You go to the United Arab Emirates, you bring worship; You bring the ecstasy You go over to another man’s country, get involved in the cult, and kill each other in broad daylight. An American came to my office and the children are amazed; the woman is surprised that this is not what we read about Nigeria from Nigerians themselves. A girl wanted to celebrate her birthday in Nigeria, did DNA on her, and she is Nigerian and she said: I will be 70 years old in Nigeria. The Nigerians told him “Don’t go in, they’re going to kidnap you. ” You won’t come back alive. ” She came here, celebrated and the two come one year and the two. We have our country if we point out the right thing. I’m not saying they don’t report what’s going on. But we don’t have to lie and exaggerate; and we’re not reporting the right stories. As soon as our online radio station is broadcast, we will do one and both things that we can. And that’s all we do with the media, but we’re limited. We are not funded; smartwill has passed us so far with media. So yes, bad stories do affect belief in our country, Nigeria, and I’ll tell you what: I was in the UK when a female MP was murdered in her workplace. I didn’t even see much of it, although there was mention of it. Another: when the IRA terrorized the UK and there was already a policy that no UK media deserves to even show the guy speaking; they can show his face but they wouldn’t stick to him talking nonsense. But here, we show the terrorists, Boko Haram, celebrating them and do you think those other people won’t be fed? They deserve it. They look at what you show. And they applaud themselves. So honestly, the media, you are part of the development; you are part of the progress. Introduce an individual, but bring down his country, I always go against it. A guy went to Russia and she said they were competing and she went and carried the bloodstained flag of Nigeria. Why? They do not constitute Nigeria and that is why they extradited her from her country. I am the proud Nigerian at all times and at all times I leave with my head held high and whoever condemns my country I attack. Attack me, attack the president, attack people, but not your country. So there are a lot of paints for the media. However, I must not forget that while we have those bad Nigerians, we have many smart ones. If you give me a Nigerian building problem, I’ll give you 10,000 who do wonderful things. And that is why we will continue to celebrate the smart ones.
Tell us more about how your Commission is funded and what you’re doing to get more budget to be self-sufficient
It is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that finances us; it’s all they give us we have to spend. And I think our budget this year, the total capital is N160 million. Over/recurring expenses are N8 million consistent with the month. That’s all we have; it’s not enough for a trip. But we’re thinking outside the box and getting things done and we’re looking as a team for other tactics to make sure we’re funded.
For some of those programs, we have to use legal entities to help them. But we don’t position investment as a sensible top priority. Money is never enough. We will do much more, but we hope to have more. But most importantly, we deserve to be able to see how we can increase investment. If you generate funds, they go to the federation account. Well, this is something we are left thinking about and see how we can avoid or minimise what we spend even as a Commission. So you find that honestly, we try to be very strict with everything we have to spend and all the staff know that, they don’t smile most of the time, but I think they know it. At least they are very informed at work. We don’t even have the right work area yet; that is the position we hold in the Federal Secretariat. So there’s no investment, no workplace, but we have interaction with our people.
How do you plan to motivate the diaspora for sustainable investments in Nigeria given the existing security situation?
We definitely can’t pretend that everything is perfect. This insecurity, by the grace of God, is temporary, everything is put in place through the government. I posted something that this NAF is bombing, no one is talking about it. ; it’s not fashionable. Then there is insecurity. We have a challenge with terrorism. We have kidnappings, banditry, but the government is doing everything possible to solve it. Everyone has their own challenges in one way or another. This can put you off; you’d probably feel that way for a while. Come.
I’m more encouraged by those who say Array “I know I’m back home. “I know, I went to my village, that’s what I do. That’s what I’m doing. It encourages me more through them than through those who will say, oh, let’s get discouraged. Listen, we have one or two guys who have come back. Look, there is a case in one of the southwestern states, the guy killed, however, it turned out that again, a member of the circle of relatives was chasing him. We already told the police that the most important thing is to know. . . we are in contact with the circle of relatives. I think the fact that having a one-on-one conversation with them is encouraging.
There are many who don’t even need persuasion. They come by themselves. They are Nigerians, they know their country. So I don’t have to persuade you, but I will tell you, this is what I advise you; there are places you should not pass. But you can do ABCD, so we can help you at ABCDE. So, there are some who don’t need persuasion.
What is the update on the Disapora Trust Fund recently presented by the President and how much has been spent to evacuate Nigerians stranded outside the country?
As far as the Diaspora Investment Trust Fund is concerned, yes, we have made great progress. We met with the Minister of Finanzas. No know that this is a new business; however, we do not do it alone. The Ministry of Finance is fully involved. So, the next step now is the ultimate takeoff. We see the Minister of Finance because there has been a presidential directive on this. We are therefore satisfied with the progress and I believe that very soon we will be in a position to relaunch it. they are in a position waiting anyway. Only from the government, if you ask other people to invest, what is the government putting into it as well?He has come up with some fantastic concepts that will be implemented in that.
What is the update of academics repatriated from Ukraine?How did you join to continue your studies in Nigeria?
Ukraine, which will also respond to the query in terms of how much it spent on the evacuation. I can’t answer the query because I don’t deal with the money. All I know is that we didn’t get a single Kobo for evacuation, whether it’s Ukraine. , South Africa or Libya. NIDCOM, as an organization, did not get a single kobo. I know we made $8. 5 million for Ukraine, but we deserve not to wonder about the money; however, we did not have a single Kobo. Our staff was at the airport, we processed the data efficiently. So, often, it’s about the dissemination of data, we trust that we informed you that we were there at the airport; we are directly connected to those other people because they were where they wanted to go. Diasporas have been actively involved but we have not won a single Kobo. Many of them have spent their money. Everyone you saw here was actively worried, but as a Commission we didn’t have a single kobo.
For South Africa, Air Peace brought them; we have approached NGOs, personal organizations to which those other people cannot return and we are just saying goodbye to them. So we had MTN, Lapasss State, Multichoice that gave one form of investment or another. Well, this time we had to be on the ground; everyone earned money, food, recharge cards, so they can move from home. Libya the same thing I did. I painted with the SDGs and we said, what do you have to do when you come back?They filled in forms. Some said they were not interested in any small business. We gave them SIM cards, and then, the ones who wanted to be trained, were sent to the MDGs for training, but many of them just wanted to go home, but we gave them a Shipping Fee. We do the paintings but do not charge any additional fees.
Ukraine, there is a Minischeck outside Foreign Affairs that was created strictly for Ukraine. We did our part, which was our role in the evacuation. So, there is an online page as a portal, which if you need to continue your studies, again, it is a matter of choice, to go to the portal and register. And I think the last time I talked to the director in charge, he said that another 420 people had signed up. But many of them consult personal universities.
Some universities say we can give you scholarships, if calificas. la University of Caleb presented them with scholarships; AfeBabalola University also said it is passing through. But the bottom line, once again, is that some institutions, especially medical institutions, have found that when they undergo certain tests, they don’t really succeed at the point they thought they should. So if I own an institution, you take an exam, let’s say, in your senior year, then you can’t pass my exams for the last year, I say move on to the third year. Of course, scholars would not need to pass there. So there were some issues with that and I think it’s been resolved. And then the query of whether you can be a doctor and make your practical charts online?So, some sought to do their practical work online and medical schools responded, “No, that can’t be acceptable. “But there is a passing conversation. And I who, since the last time I spoke to the others involved, will have to agree on one thing or the other.
Nigerian Conversation (5)
Bishop Kukah’s determination to locate what is for Nigeria is total.
Wike, Ayu and the Lady of Justice
Asíwájú Tinubu praises SGF chief Mustapha and describes him as an asset to Nigeria
Withdraw designation of alleged APC as INEC REB, SERAP tells Buhari
Múfú Olósà-Oko e Ìbàdàn de los 90
Last minute: BBNaija: Another roommate will be evicted tonight
Why My Marriage Collapsed – Ned Nwoko’s wife, Laila
the files
letters
Book review
Company
Blanket
Crime
Elections 2015
Environment
Outstanding
bless you
Interview
Judicial
vida
Magazine
News
Opinion
foto
Politics
Religion
Security
Soyinka at 80
Special Report
sponsored
Sport
tech
Tourism
Homage
Uncategorized
Video