The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has disclosed that Nigerians in the Diaspora remit about $20 billion yearly to the country, representing 6.1% of the country’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Dabiri-Erewa, who made this disclosure on Wednesday during a presentation at the “Africa Diaspora Day on the Hill”, held in the U.S. Capitol as part of the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., noted that the remittances had been helpful in terms of the usefulness to the country’s economic development.
A statement issued by the commission’s Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, signed by Gabriel Odu, quoted the NiDCOM boss as commending the Nigerians in foreign countries for their contributions to socioeconomic development of Nigeria and their host countries.
The statement reads in part: “Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has commended the contributions of the Nigerian diaspora to both the Nigerian economy and their host countries.
“She stated this during a presentation at the ‘Africa Diaspora Day on the Hill’, held in the U.S. Capitol as part of the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington DC.
“Nigerians continue to contribute significantly to the Nigerian economy, with annual remittances amounting to approximately $20 billion, representing 6.1% of the country’s GDP.
“She further elaborated on the efforts of NiDCOM to effectively engage the Nigerian diaspora through the National Diaspora Policy, which aims to harness the resources and capacity of Nigerians abroad for national development”, it added.
