News

Sudan: NIDCOM Calls for Ease of Passage to Refugees

By Web News 342

By Nafiu Busari

The Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa has called on those concerned with passages and movement of persons and services along contiguous borders of Sudan to create a humane condition for about 7000 Nationals, including Nigerians to have unfettered access to their various destinations.

In a statement, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said over 7000 nationals, including Nigerians are not being allowed to cross the border into Egypt since their arrival late Thursday evening .

She added that the Nigerian mission in Egypt has been working tirelessly as the Egyptian authorities are insisting on visas by fellow Africans to transit back to their countries.

She appealed to the Egyptian authorities to kindly allow the already traumatised travellers to transit to their final destinations in various countries in Africa.

News

Ukraine War: Nigerian Students In Detention – NiDCOM

By Web News 466

Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa says some Nigerian students who fled War torn Ukraine to neighboring countries of Poland and Hungary are now in detention.

A development she said was unacceptable by the Federal Government.

She made this known in Abuja at the commencement of a two day Psychosocial Trauma Clinic For Ukraine returnees organized by the National Commission For Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Project Victory Call Initiative, PVC Naija.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa explained that the psychosocial support programme would be extended to other parts of the country for all returnees who are in need of the service.

The Federal Commissioner National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Hajiya Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim said the commission would provide it offices across the country for the psychosocial support to get to those who needed them.

The Student Union President of Nigerian Students In Ukraine Fehintola Moses appreciated the Federal Government especially the minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama who he said personally reached out to him, the chairman of NiDCOM Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the National refugees commission for their efforts in ensuring that Nigerian students were safely evacuated back home.

Mr. Fehintola who narrated his experience during the Ukraine war, appeal to the Federal Government for more interventions for them to continue with their studies.

He appealed to Nigerians to embrace peace and to say no war.

The convener Project Victory Call Initiative PVC, volunteers for the programme, Dr. Bolaji Akinyemi said four psychologists were mobilized from sokoto and Plateau states for the first phase of the programme.

FRCN Abuja/Olaolu Fawole

Economy

PMB Endorses Establishment of Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust Fund

By Web News 623

President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed the establishment of the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust Fund, NDITF, to support direct investments in the country.

The President made the endorsement in Abuja at the presentation of a compendium entitled +600 Diaspora Icons at 60, published by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM,

The President said Nigeria was open to welcoming the Diaspora Direct Investment by compatriots abroad, a private sector investment window with Nigerians in the Diaspora

He noted that the foreign exchange remittances by Nigerians in the Diaspora had helped families and enhanced the development index of Nigeria.

President Buhari described the 327-page compendium as a historical record of the worth of Nigeria’s compatriots globally, adding that the distinguished list in the publication is a reminder of what Nigerians are capable of doing to the delight of the global community.

He stressed that irrespective of the few bad eggs, which is not peculiar to Nigeria, the country remains a great nation populated by great people, living at home or abroad, making citizens proud.

The President urged Nigerians to make it a duty to celebrate and extol compatriots who have excelled in their chosen careers and professions.

He noted that no country would do that for Nigerians except themselves, emphasising that their failure in recognising their own will make other countries capitalise on the few bad eggs and characterise Nigeria in their own negative narratives.

President Buhari called on Nigerians across the world to continue to be of exemplary behaviour and with determination to offer quality services that contribute to the progress of humanity.

While congratulating those whose names have made it to the first edition, President Buhari encouraged others to work more conscientiously to make the list in the subsequent editions.

He commended the Diaspora Commission for the energy and innovative steps it put together to ensure better engagements with the Diaspora Community.

The Chairman of NIDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa had said the idea of the compendium was inspired by the regular Diaspora Presidential Town Hall meetings.

She said the Commission planned to publish the compendium at regular intervals, towards changing the negative stereotypes typified by the activities of a few bad Nigerians.

Abdullah Bello