Dabiri-Erewa Urges FG to Seek Compensation for Nigerians Displaced from South Africa

Dabiri-Erewa Urges FG to Seek Compensation for Nigerians Displaced from South Africa
Says Nigeria Must Not Ignore South Africa Returnees
Over 1,200 Cases of Nigerians Abused Abroad Handled by NiDCOM

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called on the Federal Government to demand compensation for Nigerians who were forced to abandon their jobs, businesses and property in South Africa before returning home, Eko Hot Blog reports.

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Speaking on Friday at the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration, NiDCOM Youth Summit and National Diaspora Merit Award in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa described the experiences of the affected Nigerians as heartbreaking, saying the country must not ignore their suffering.

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She said many of those who returned home lost everything they had built over the years and deserved justice.

“That South Africa thing is pathetic, really. Nigeria should not look the other way. We must demand compensation for Nigerians who have been roughly treated and who had to leave everything.

“They had jobs. They left everything they ever owned, and they’re back home. I know that their lives will be better as they’re back in Nigeria,” she said.

Dabiri-Erewa also revealed that NiDCOM’s legal department, working with the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has handled more than 1,200 cases involving the detention, abuse and maltreatment of Nigerians abroad.

According to her, many of the cases were successfully resolved through diplomatic engagements and legal interventions, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerians living overseas.

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Also at the event, President Bola Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to harnessing the expertise of Nigerians in the diaspora to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President acknowledged the challenges facing the health sector, including inadequate infrastructure, shortages of skilled medical personnel, limited research capacity, gaps in specialised care and policy inconsistencies.

He said those challenges could be addressed by building stronger partnerships between Nigerian professionals abroad and institutions at home.

Tinubu announced plans to institutionalise the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative, expand diaspora medical missions nationwide, strengthen collaborations with teaching hospitals, promote telemedicine, encourage diaspora investment in hospitals and research centres, and introduce incentives for health professionals willing to return to Nigeria to practise or invest.

He urged Nigerians in the diaspora to continue contributing their expertise towards building a resilient and world-class healthcare system.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the strong participation of Nigerian health professionals abroad in the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative demonstrated the success of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, the initiative has attracted surgeons, infectious disease specialists, gynaecologists, specialist nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals from different parts of the world to provide free healthcare services, carry out complex medical procedures, train local health workers and strengthen healthcare delivery across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Salako added that the Federal Government was also implementing measures to improve the welfare of health workers, including the approval of new allowances, while developing digital platforms to enable Nigerian professionals abroad to contribute more effectively to the country’s healthcare system.