We have remmited $21.5bn to Nigera in two years-Nigerians in Diaspora

 Nigerians in the Diaspora have urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency establish the Diaspora Commission to serve as a medium for seamless interface between Nigerians in the Diaspora and their native land, just as they disclosed that about $21.5billion was remitted to Nigeria in the past two years by them, a contribution which was only surpassed by revenue from oil.

Disclosing this weekend at the closing session of the 2014 summit of the Nigerian Diaspora Organization (NIDO), America held at the Embassy Hotels and Suites, Columbus Ohio, Chairman, NIDO America Board of Directors Chairman, Chief Gabe Okoye said that when established, it would also serve as the vehicle through which the Nigeria Diaspora Community could channel their vast resources to Nigeria for the development of the country, the NIDO leader contended.

Chief Okoye who likened the creation of the commission to former President John Kennedy’s call for Americans to ask for what they can do for their country, not what their country can do for them, stressed that with the resolution passed by this year’s National Conference recommending the creation of the commission, NIDO members are upbeat that their dogged push for its birth was beginning to yield the expected result.

He said, “We must use the opportunity availed to us by this conference to plant in the ears of all our guests, especially those from the homeland that, we unapologetically insist on the implementation of the resolutions of the National Conference.”

Speaking at the event, minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed has called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to curtail their unbridled vilification of their country of origin and its government and be patriotic by concentrating more on proffering practical solutions.

In a statement by his Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Nosike Ogbuenyi, the Minister who was represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu, urged them to think more about what they could contribute to the development of their native country Nigeria and less about what they could get from it.

He stressed that demonization of Nigeria, its government and people by the Nigerian Diaspora rather than solve would worsen the problems facing Nigeria such as terrorism and kidnapping, adding that the time was now for the Nigerian Diaspora to act fast to assist in finding solution to the challenges confronting the nation.

According to him, no other group was better positioned than the Diasporans to lead the way in bailing Nigeria from the vice grip of corruption, indiscipline and tribalism.

Also speaking, Professor Kelechi Kalu, Vice Provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs, Ohio State University, whose lecture was titled “Safety and Security and Nigerian Transformation Agenda,” said Nigeria has done well in terms of conceptualizing what we should be but the problem has to do with actualizing what we should be.