Nigerians to Enjoy Seamless Experience At Nigeria Airports- Interior Minister

Maryam Aminu

Nigerians in Diaspora Investment Summit has over the years been expanding its participants’
network, showcasing their products and services to target audience such as the
Diaspora investors, sponsors and government actors.

The Chief Host, NDIS, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said this at the day 2 opening ceremony of the 6th edition of Nigerians in Diaspora Investment Summit held on Tuesday in Abuja

Dabiri-Erewa added that the summit has been providing pro bono coaching and mentoring services to pitchers on how best to sell their businesses and attract investment. This goes to show that the Summit is not just keen on attracting foreigners Direct Investment but ensures that the capacities of local businesses, most especially those that participated in the Summit, are significantly enhanced.

According to NiDCOM Boss, the summit is held to demonstrate that engaging the diaspora is a more effective and sustainable strategy for attracting inward investment into the emerging diversified Nigerian economy.

Speaking on this year’s theme: New Vistas, New Aspirations, New Opportunities- The Diaspora and National Development, she said it’s apt because it creates innovative platforms of partnerships, between the Government and the Diaspora, in attracting investment into local businesses and thus enhancing Foreign Direct Investment in the country.

She further stated that the summit is very appropriate because it creates innovative platforms of partnerships, between the Government and the Diaspora, in attracting investment into local businesses and thus enhancing Diaspora Direct Investment in the country.

Earlier on Monday while delivering her special remarks, Dabiri-Erewa said the summit since it’s inception has been up to it’s expectations of attracting diaspora investment into local businesses in Nigeria with numerous success stories on social impact as well as business connections.

“For the Federal Government to go far in repositioning the economy, there is need to engage the diaspora. Engaging diaspora is a more effective and sustainable strategy for attracting inward investment into the emerging diversified Nigeria economy” She said.

Speaking also, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji- Ojo has assured Nigerians that they would begin to enjoy the sweet experience of having to enjoy a seemless experience at Nigeria Airports.

“By December this year, if you need your passport, you apply online, you upload your passport photograph, your supporting documents and attestation online. You only go to the office for biometric and nothing more.”

Tunji-Ojo added that by February, travelers will not need to go back to the passport offices to collect their passports but they will be delivered to their houses, offices or location of choice.

Speaking further, the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has pledged to support Diaspora initiatives in the housing and urban development space as well as encourage partnerships with the Diaspora towards making a change in the housing and urban development narrative of Nigeria.

Dangiwa disclosed that the mortgage schemes for Nigerians in the diaspora particularly United States, United Kingdom and Canada will kick off soon.

The Minister added that he holds in high regards the Nigerians in diasporas, who even though are in abroad, yet they desire to own houses in Nigeria

“I am excited to be the Minister of Housing and Urban Development to launch the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, which I initiated as the MD/CE of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria on this auspicious occasion.

On his part, the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, said “In every thriving country of the world, at least a Nigerian must be involved.

The Nigerians in the Diaspora are the most patriotic, despite the challenges they face. We have a sole responsibility for the development of sports in Nigeria and sports have the power to unite and transform more than every other sector.