By Nkechi Eze
The House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs has assured that necessary measures will be taken to improve budgetary allocations for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in the upcoming fiscal year.
The assurance was given by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Chinedu Tochukwu Okere, during an oversight visit to the Commission’s office in Abuja, where he met with the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. In an official signed statement, the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disclosed details of the visit.
Okere commended Dabiri-Erewa for her impactful leadership over the past seven years despite limited resources, stressing the importance of increased funding and the provision of a befitting Diaspora Plaza to enhance the Commission’s effectiveness.
“You cannot head diaspora affairs and be in Nigeria. You need to travel outside to engage with them,” he said, adding that the Commission has consistently demonstrated commitment and energy in engaging Nigerians abroad and therefore deserves more support to enable its management and staff to function optimally.
In her response, Dabiri-Erewa expressed appreciation for the Committee’s backing and reiterated the need for stronger financial support to fully execute NiDCOM’s mandate. She highlighted ongoing and upcoming initiatives, including the review of the National Diaspora Policy in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the National Diaspora Day scheduled for July 25 with a focus on healthcare, and the Diaspora Merit Awards.
Other planned projects include the improved Diaspora Data Mapping Portal, the State Diaspora Focal Point Officers’ Meeting hosted by the Edo State Government on April 12 and 13, 2026, and the Global Nigerian Diaspora Investment and Innovation Summit in August in Toronto, Canada.
The NiDCOM Chairman also appealed to the Committee to ensure that the Ministry of Labour enforces stricter regulations to curb the activities of fraudulent agents issuing deceptive work visa offers to Nigerians seeking employment abroad.
The oversight visit further included an inspection of the Commission’s office facilities and surrounding infrastructure within the Federal Secretariat Complex, and the annex building in Garki, Abuja.
