Editorial Column
Recounting NIDCOM Sterling Achievements In The Last One Year
It is a glaring fact that Nigerians living abroad had never experienced better days until the establishment of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the eventual appointment of an erstwhile veteran National Legislator, Hon Dabiri-Erewa as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
It is on record that the coming of Hon Dabiri-Erewa as NIDCOM has greatly transformed the narratives of Nigerians abroad and consequently reinvigorated their interest in home affairs in just one year of its coming into being.
The once Nigerians residents of South Africa will hardly forget in a hurry the xenophobic experience and the prompt intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria as a result of the persistent efforts made by the NIDCOM boss as the Commission perfected their swift evacuation back to Nigeria and equally arranged their resettlements in two tranches.
Besides, the Commission has been able to demonstrate its diligence in service during the outbreak of the scourging coronavirus pandemic by promptly evacuating over 10,000 ill-treated and stranded Nigerians back to Nigeria in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian Mission abroad.
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Again, there is no denying the fact the Commission prompt and timely response in the case of Zainab Habibu Aliyu, a 22-year-old girl who was imprisoned by the Saudi Authority for an offence she knew nothing about, served as a magic wand for the helpless lady as President Buhari swiftly intervened to save her life through the unrelenting efforts of Hon Dabiri-Erewa.
In her usual proactive manner in handling Diaspora issues, the NIDCOM Chairman on Monday 31 August 2020 played host to a delegation led by Justice Amina Bello, mother of a Nigerian student, Ibrahim Khaleel, a 300 Level Engineering student who was allegedly killed in inexplicable circumstances in Northern Cyprus.
While condemning the vile incident, the NIDCOM Boss advised Nigerian parents to stop sending their children to Northern Cyprus as hundreds of Nigerian students had been murdered in the country without any investigation.
Hon Dabiri-Erewa further revealed that the Commission was making frantic efforts to liaise with INTERPOL through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation while equally taking up the issue with Turkish Ambassador, the only country that diplomatic ties with Northern Cyprus.
She also stressed that NIDCOM would enter into a partnership with Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to disregard any certificate that emanates from the said country since most other Universities are incomparable to Nigerian Universities in terms of standard.
Equally, in order to ensure proper coordination between the commission and state governments in relating with Nigerians in Diaspora, NIDCOM established State Diaspora Focal Point Officers to dialogue and strategise on harmonious coordination of Diaspora engagements at the grassroots. And, in recognition of the speedily accelerating role of Diaspora remittances in Nigeria’s economic growth and development, the Ad hoc National Committee of the Nigerians in Diaspora Investment Fund was inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday.
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The committee has a one-month time-frame to complete work on its terms of reference, which are to determine the mission and objectives of the fund, as well as stipulate the procedures for its utilisation and management.
A commission like NIDCOM saddled with huge responsibilities should not be a squatter; it deserves a permanent official apartment of its to enable it focus on its core mandate for optimal results.
We, therefore, urge the Federal Government to make an official space available to it as soon as possible.
Going forward, NIDCOM should, as a matter of urgency, undertake a comprehensive census of all Nigerians in Diaspora, and their location, to enhance more effective relations with them and ultimately help actualise their participating in the country’s electoral process.
It is equally expected that the Commission is given a befitting office to allow ‘Lady Diaspora’, Hon Dabiri-Erewa to settle down and continue to passionately put smiles on the faces of Nigerians abroad as she has been demonstrating with passion and vigour since she assumed office as the Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM.
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