The Federal Government has declared its readiness to partner with Nigerians in Diaspora in a bid to garner more assistance for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East region of the country.
The FG says it is granting waivers to Nigerians in Diaspora willing to partner with the government on medical interventions, youth empowerment and employment generation.
Briefing newsmen on the forth coming 2016 Diaspora Day conference, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Government of the Federation (SGF) Olakunle Bamgboshe, said the waivers would be granted to those who are importing medications, medical equipments amongst others for the purpose of assisting internally displaced Nigerians.
“We have contacted the necessary stakeholders involved in facilitating waivers for them” he said.
He added that the federal government will continue to partner with Nigerians outside the country because it appreciates the invaluable contributions they make towards the growth and development of the nation. “This partnership is more critical today that we pursue a total national rebirth” he said.
In 2015, Nigerians in Diaspora remitted $21 billion making the country the sixth largest receiver of remittances in the world, according to statistics from Migration of Remittance Factbook 2016 .
Nigeria also stands as the largest receiver of remittances in sub-Saharan Africa, receiving a total of $34.8 billion this year.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had during his tenure established the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) an umbrella Organization identified by government to represent the interest of Nigerians in the Diaspora. The Diaspora day is held annually to provide a platform for Nigerians in the Diaspora to interact and collaborate with the Federal and State Governments to address different challenges faced in the country.
This year’s conference, Bamgboshe said will be a complete departure from the past when Nigerian Nationals overseas only come to talk down on those in the country, constantly highlight challenges without committing to specific solutions.
“He said, “this year’s conference will take a complete departure from our past experiences, when our nationals, come home, only to highlight the challenges that confront our nation. The government and citizens of Nigeria at home are not ignorant of challenges as a nation. What our nation requires are solutions to specific problems.
” This year’s conference, in essence will focus on obtaining firm commitments from Nigerians in the Diaspora, directed at solving some of our national challenges. The administration is ready to partner with Nigerians in Diaspora on how they can assist Internally Displaced Persons in the North-East Region; on how through medical interventions they can improve healthcare delivery across the country and on how they can assist government in Youth Empowerment and employment generation) he said.
He said previous conferences had not yielded positive results and as such no part of the communique issues after the conference was ever implemented. “No concrete recommendations were made from last year’s communique after the event and that informed our decision for this year” he stated.
For this year’s conference an estimated number of about 300 Nigerians are expected to attend, while 170 have already completed their registration online he said adding that the FG will provide accommodation and logistics.
