Lagos, May 1, 2023 – Mr Bola Babarinde, the pioneer Chairman of the South African Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to create the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs to cater for Nigerians abroad.
Babarinde, who was the Director, Africa Affairs in Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, made the call in a statement on Monday.
He said the current situations in Ukraine and Sudan should be enough lessons for establishing the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs by the Federal Government.
According to him, the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) under Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa as chairman, has been discharging its duties effectively.
Babarinde, however, said that NIDCOM was overwhelmed and limited lack of power and resources needed to do more for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The APC chieftain suggested that NIDCOM should be a made a full-fledged ministry where there would be more funding and qualified technocrats to manage it.
He said such diaspora technocrats would adequately manage the affairs of the ministry with the experiences they had garnered outside the country, which would enable them proffer solutions and render services whenever there was the need.
Babarinde said the establishment of the ministry would help Nigerians in foreign lands in critical situations.
“A full-fledged Ministry of Diaspora Affairs would suffice to cater for overseeing the administrative, welfare, safety support to Nigerians in Diaspora.
”And also coordinating the remittances and other similar contributions by its citizens living abroad towards development of Nigeria and its local economy.
”What happened in Ukraine and what is currently happening to our citizens in Sudan should be enough reasons to look into the direction of establishing Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
“It demands the innate experience to addressing issues of Diasporans in foreign countries, especially their welfare and safety,” he said. (GBN)
