The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia have agreed to deepen collaboration aimed at improving diaspora engagement and highlighting the positive contributions of Nigerians living in the Kingdom.
According to an official statement signed by Violet Nwosu, Media, Public Relations and Protocol, NiDCOM, Abuja, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made this known when she received the Ambassador of Nigeria to Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Yakubu N. Gambo, and the Consul General in Jeddah, Ambassador Muazam I.J. Nayaya, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa pledged the Commission’s continued collaboration with the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia to strengthen diaspora engagement and showcase the positive contributions of Nigerians living in the country.
Ambassador Gambo said diaspora affairs had been prioritised since he assumed office, noting that diaspora issues form part of Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities.
He disclosed that Saudi Arabia was home to many Nigerian professionals, including doctors, engineers, teachers, artisans and traders, as well as long-established Nigerian families.
Gambo said the Mission had directed various Nigerian groups to organise themselves under one umbrella body to promote unity and enable the Embassy to engage meaningfully and effectively with them in addressing diaspora-related issues.
He also highlighted challenges involving Nigerians in prisons and detention centres, as well as those who had completed their jail terms but remained unable to return home because of outstanding fines.
The Consul General in Jeddah, Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, identified consular services as one of the major challenges confronting the Mission, revealing that officers issue dozens of Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs) daily to Nigerians in detention centres.
Nayaya commended NiDCOM for its support in the case involving Nigerian national Suleiman Alufa and other interventions undertaken by the Commission.
Dabiri-Erewa commended both envoys for their proactive engagement with Nigerians in Saudi Arabia and Jeddah, describing the initiative to unite the various Nigerian associations as a positive step towards achieving greater results.
She stressed the need to highlight the achievements of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, noting that public attention was often focused on negative cases involving Nigerians abroad.
“Many Nigerians in Saudi Arabia are excelling as doctors, engineers and other professionals. We only hear about the bad cases; we don’t hear about Nigerians excelling in Saudi Arabia, now is the time to start celebrating them,” she said.
The NiDCOM Chairman urged Nigerians in Saudi Arabia to register on the Commission’s Diaspora Data Mapping Portal to strengthen government planning and engagement with citizens abroad.
She also called for greater support for Nigerian missions handling heavy consular responsibilities.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to promoting the welfare of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, strengthening diaspora participation and creating greater opportunities for Nigerians abroad to contribute to national development.
