Reps Poised To Mitigate Challenges Facing Nigerians In Diaspora

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, assured Nigerians in diaspora of concerted efforts through legislation to mitigate challenges they face while finding greener pastures abroad, assuring them of equal opportunity across board.

The chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Sir Tochukwu Okere, gave the assurance during a virtual strategic engagement meeting between the Nigerian-American Coalition for Justice and Democracy (NACJD) and members of the House Committee.

Okere assured that continuous partnership between all stakeholders and relevant agencies of government will guarantee full implementation of all their demands.

The lawmaker further stated that the House Committee’s unrelenting efforts towards enacting laws that will positively respond to the yearnings of Nigerians living in diaspora were sacrosanct.

“We’ll not sweep this huge blessing under the rug. My Committee will sustain this kind of interactions directly with Nigerians in diaspora.

“We’ll stop at nothing to turning the ‘Japa’ trend to brain gain and to economic gain. We are also working hard to present their best interests to the Nigerian government; to provide a sense of dignity and protection to our brothers and sisters living beyond the shores of our country,” he stated.

Also apeaking, chairman of Nigerian American Coalition for Justice and Democracy, Prof. Eddie Oparaoji, outlined the numerous challenges facing Nigerians living in the diaspora.

The challenges, according to him, include; consular assistance, quest for diaspora voting, enhanced diaspora remittances and timely evaluation of Nigerian citizens in the cases of xenophobic attacks, among others, adding that interactive session with members of NACJD was a signal that Nigerians abroad were committed to a greater Nigeria and will always represent the nation with every sense of dignity and purpose.

Dignitaries at the meeting, which was moderated by NACJD Secretary, Dr. Chijike Ndukwu, were House of Representatives Diaspora Affairs Committee members – Prof. Mrs Viola Onwuliri, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr Sunny Ogunewe, the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs consultant, and members of USA Chamber of Commerce, among others.