The Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has cautioned Nigerians not to travel to Northern Cyprus going forward warning them of the implications.
Speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja yesterday, Dabiri-Erewa said there is little the Federal Government can do to diplomatically resolve issues in the territory because Northern Cyprus is not recognised by the international community except Turkey.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the warning is coming on the heels of reports that many Nigerian are being killed in Northern Cyprus.
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Dabiri-Erewa also urged Nigerians in Diaspora not to be afraid to invest in the country because of insecurity.
While admitting that the country’s insecurity challenge is a source of concern, because according to her, only temporary because of stiff measures currently employed by the Federal Government to tackle the situation.
She said the commission recorded over $20 billion in daispora remittances for 2021.
In another report, Dabiri had yesterday asserted that despite the number of Nigerians aiming to leave the country, there is also a significant number returning to the country.
Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke at a press briefing at the state house in Abuja on Thursday, cited a number of persons in the agricultural and healthcare sector coming into the country to invest and contribute to the development of the country.
Dabiri-Erewa said the Duchess International Hospital where Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had surgery was established by Nigerians in the diaspora.
According to the NiDCOM chief, ‘there are many Nigerians doing great things’.
‘We speak of ‘japa’ as a one-way phenomenon, but we also have Nigerians constantly returning home. There are examples of Nigerians returning home, occasionally or permanently, to do interesting things, in agriculture, healthcare, etc,’ she said.
‘The hospital where the VP was recently treated was set up by diaspora doctors. I’m not saying Nigeria’s not a challenging environment, but we must also acknowledge those who are coming back home to do impactful things.’
Dabiri-Erewa said the commission is making an effort to see that Nigerians in the diaspora are allowed to vote.
