FG pledges deeper collaboration with NIDCOM to formalise remittances, tackle brain-drain

By Precious Mark

The Federal Government has pledged to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to formalise diaspora remittance flows, enhance citizen protection abroad, and address the ongoing brain drain, popularly known as the ‘Japa syndrome.’

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the commitment in Abuja on Thursday, during a courtesy visit by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside her management team.

Enikanolaiye stated that the partnership aligns directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘4D Foreign Policy’ anchored on Demography, Democracy, Diaspora, and Development, emphasizing that Development remains the core priority of the administration’s foreign engagements.

According to the Minister, diplomatic efforts must directly translate into tangible economic advantages for ordinary Nigerians through critical infrastructure, healthcare expansion, job creation, and sustainable poverty reduction.

Addressing the visitors, the Minister noted that development cannot remain an abstract concept, stressing that foreign policy must deliver clear and visible benefits to the citizens in areas such as roads, hospitals, power supply, food security, and meaningful opportunities for the youth.

Highlighting the economic contribution of the diaspora, Enikanolaiye called for a structured framework to track financial inflows and transition diaspora remittances from informal channels into formal economic structures.

He also urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to partner closely with NIDCOM, explaining that every state in the federation has a vibrant diaspora population capable of driving local investments in health, agriculture, housing, and technology.

The Minister praised NIDCOM and Nigerian diplomatic missions for their seamless coordination in the recent evacuation and repatriation of stranded citizens from South Africa, while charging foreign missions across the globe to double up on service delivery and actively defend Nigerian interests.

To overcome severe budgetary limitations, Enikanolaiye revealed that the Ministry is exploring alternative revenue sources, including leveraging diplomatic properties abroad and partnering with private sector entities to fund diaspora-targeted programs.

Earlier in her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa briefed the Minister on NIDCOM’s mandate and operational hurdles, identifying persistent underfunding and a lack of adequate office space as major obstacles facing the commission.

She announced that preparations are underway for the 4th National Diaspora Merit Award to honor outstanding Nigerians abroad, adding that plans for a dedicated Diaspora Trust Fund are being finalized to give Nigerians in the diaspora a secure and structured platform to invest back home.