NIDS 2019: Soludo Urges Nigerian Diaspora to Take Development of home Country as duty
Oru Leonard
The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo has advised Nigerians in the Diaspora to take the development of the country as a point of duty in order to contribute to the prosperity of the Nation.
Delivering his keynote address on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the 2019 Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit,
at Abuja, Soludo said it was wrong to regard Investment in the homeland as an act of charity, adding that a prosperous homeland for a Diasporan isn’t a choice, but a duty. They constitute the other Nigerian.
According to him, “In the context of racism and Xenophobia, it is in the enlightened self-interest of those in Diaspora to show interest in the development of their homeland. Even the capital isn’t colour neutral.”
He called on government to insist on “two irreducible minimum standards: safety and returns on investment to encourage Nigerians in Diaspora to invest in the country as investment”, noting that it is different from charity. He also called on the political elite to open up the political space to enable such returnees to participate.
The Chairman of the event, Paschal Dozie, urged the Federal government to articulate areas of investment that returnees could invest in like agriculture, manufacturing, housing, hospitality and tourism, “Nigeria needs to be ready to connect and engage them for long term beneficial returns”, he said.
Speaking also, The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu said his Commission has taken several proactive measures to make sure that Nigeria is a safe haven for genuine investors both for expatriate and its nationals outside the country.
“Our crusade is to encourage FDI both local and abroad. It is to encourage our brothers abroad.
“We are working at the ECOWAS level to adopt a protocol to enable us to repatriate those who perpetrate Advanced Fee Fraud. I want to assure Nigerians in Diaspora that we will do everything to protect your investment. Bankers here are defrauding beneficiaries when Nigerians abroad send money. We are working with banks to ensure that Nigerians abroad will not be apprehensive to send money home. We have had instances when people send money through Money Transfer and the receiver here is shortchanged.”
He opined that corruption should be checked by everyone so that we can enjoy a corruption free society.
The Chairman /Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabrie who was visibly radiating with satisfaction, thanked the stakeholders and participants for associating with the vision of her Commission and gave assurances of her commitment to the welfare of Diasporians.
