The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to creating an enabling environment that encourages greater collaboration and investment from Nigerians in the diaspora.
Vice President Kashim Shettima stated this on Wednesday during the 8th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) held at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja. The three-day event, themed “Fast-Tracking Regional and National Development by Mobilising Diaspora Investment,” ran from November 11 to 13.
Represented by Amb. Dunoma Ahmed, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shettima said the summit aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to leverage the ingenuity and resilience of Nigerians at home and abroad to drive national prosperity.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda recognises the Nigerian diaspora as a central pillar of the country’s foreign policy and development strategy. He cited ongoing initiatives such as the Home and Abroad Housing Platform by NiDCOM, which enables Nigerians abroad to safely invest in real estate, and the proposed Diaspora Bond designed to give them a direct stake in national growth.
Shettima also highlighted reforms like the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (BVN) and a competitive exchange rate policy, which have boosted formal remittance inflows, amounting to about $21 billion in 2024.
He further revealed ongoing partnerships between NiDCOM and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to link diaspora professionals, scientists, and innovators with opportunities in Nigeria.
On infrastructure, the Vice President said the government has prioritised key projects to stimulate economic growth, including the approval of ₦4.2 trillion for road and bridge construction and ₦1.3 trillion to settle power sector debts and expand mini-grid projects.
He added that the laying of over 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables would strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.
Also speaking, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, urged Nigerians to project the country positively, noting that recent economic reforms and improved financial transparency had led to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list — a move that has boosted investor confidence.
Malagi assured that the Tinubu administration remains focused on building a business-friendly environment where investors can thrive under transparent and sustainable economic policies.
