President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians dwelling overseas to do not forget that there isn’t any place like house.
He recalled that he as soon as lived and labored overseas however returned house to contribute to the nation’s improvement.
The president, represented by the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation, George Akume, spoke on the 2024 Nationwide Diaspora Day Celebrations in Abuja on Thursday.
Tinubu stated he expects these overseas to convey again their experiences to assist his improvement agenda.
He stated, “As somebody who as soon as lived and labored overseas, I can attest that migration may be transformative and severe. Within the Nineteen Seventies, I went to the USA, the place I studied and labored, earlier than returning to Nigeria to contribute to nation-building.
“I, subsequently, urge our residents who relocate overseas to do not forget that there isn’t any place like house. We count on them to convey again their experiences to assist our improvement agenda.”
Tinubu said that though the migration of residents overseas has its penalties, the federal government wouldn’t maintain it in opposition to them for searching for higher alternatives elsewhere.
The president, nonetheless, urged them to not neglect their nation.
Tinubu stated, “As we rejoice our diaspora neighborhood, we should acknowledge the implication of this phenomenon for our collective progress. We can not begrudge our residents who’re searching for higher alternatives overseas, however we should urge them to not neglect their homeland.”
Tinubu disclosed {that a} whole of $646 million was acquired in diaspora remittances between January and Could 2024.
He stated, “The CBN has just lately launched some reforms within the sector, and the reforms are yielding quick outcomes. In January, remittances totalled $138.56 million. We recorded $39 million in February, $104 million in March, $193 million in April, and $365 million in Could 2024.
“The development displays the extent of belief and the optimistic impacts of the obligatory reforms applied by the Central Financial institution.”
Tinubu disclosed {that a} current estimate from the Nigeria Excessive Fee in Ottawa, Canada, means that round 200,000 to 250,000 Nigerians reside in Canada.
Tinubu added, “Different estimates point out that between 10 million and 14 million Nigerians are within the diaspora, most dwelling in different African international locations.
“The Nigerian Immigration Service’s current knowledge confirmed that Nigeria recorded a big improve in emigration, with 3.7 million residents leaving the nation between 2022 and September 2023. Nonetheless, Nigeria additionally acquired 1.3 million immigrants throughout the identical interval, making us the forty sixth nation with probably the most immigrants globally.”
