The Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa , has called for a shift in Nigeria’s migration narrative, stressing that migration contributes significantly to national development through remittances and skills transfer.
Speaking through her representative at the National Migration Conversation in Abuja on July 9th, 2026, Abiodun Akanbi, NIDCOM’s director of programs, the chairman stated:
“Migration is not all about japa, it’s over 20 billion dollars in remittances.”
The Commission noted that Nigerians in the diaspora remain one of the country’s greatest assets, contributing not only financially but also through knowledge, investment, and global networks.
NIDCOM urged government and stakeholders to create policies that engage the diaspora meaningfully and to partner with relevant media to provide accurate information to potential migrants to discourage irregular and dangerous journeys.
“Our people abroad are building Nigeria. We must celebrate them, protect them, and leverage their contributions for development”, the Commission stated.
Participants, including NAPTIP, IOM Nigeria, and academia, agreed that data, public enlightenment, and diaspora engagement must be central to Nigeria’s migration governance.
In his welcome address at the event, the Executive editor of emphasised Migrationwatch Magazine’s commitment to complement stakeholders’ efforts by providing data-driven reporting and public education on migration, including the economic role of the diaspora.
Onoja called on all stakeholders to support the magazine in its determination to make a huge difference in migration reportage through intensive reporting
