Sending a national crowd to attend the so-called Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference in Toronto, Canada, from August 12 to 15, 2026, with the hope of attracting diaspora investment, is an embarrassing political jamboree and a waste of public funds. Is this project, which was reportedly conceptualized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, a productive innovation? The answer is negative.
The diaspora is not an industry. They are individuals who mostly escaped from the consequences of bad governance in Nigeria to eke out a living and forge better standards of life for themselves and their families. Their remittances back home are to take care of their families and cover the widening lacuna left by the profligacy of government.
Many questions arise from this political jamboree. What sense does it make for the Federal Government to select the five governors of some of the most terrorized states in Nigeria (Borno, Zamfara, Plateau, Kaduna and Anambra) to attend this jamboree when their states are battling murderous insecurity and deepening economic deprivation?
In some areas of these states, some communities have been deserted and surrendered to terrorists. How will such environments attract investors? What is the sense in including three ministers and other government officials in this jamboree, from a country that is borrowing heavily to fund its national budgets? Meanwhile, these people will travel with their respective aides to Canada, from a country whose debt had jumped to N159.35 trillion with little or nothing to show for what was borrowed.
Technically speaking, how does the presence of 5 governors, three ministers, several officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Revenue Service, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, the National Information Technology Development Agency, et cetera, boost diaspora investment? How can the face of Femi Gbajabiamila market Nigeria abroad? Without prejudice to his office, should a personal aide to the president be leading a delegation of elected governors and ministers who passed Senate screening? What is the job of the Nigerian embassies in Canada and other countries if they cannot attract the needed investments? This jamboree indicts the embassies and questions their ability to carry out their statutory responsibilities.
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To actualize the dream investments, is the federal government counting on the same disregarded diaspora who cannot vote in the elections of their country, Nigeria? The same diaspora which has no governing board for the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, as mandated by law? Critical decisions such as the one surrounding this political jamboree developed by NIDCOM ought to have passed through the governing board of NIDCOM if there was one. The Act that established the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission states that “The Governing Board shall consist of a chairman who shall be the chief executive and accounting officer of the commission. The chairman and members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall hold office for a period of 4 years and may be re-appointed for a further term of 4 years and no more. The Board shall be responsible for the general administration of the Commission and in particular, shall formulate general policies for the regulation and development of the Commission and the achievement and exercise of the functions of the Commission; approve the audited and management accounts of the Commission and appoint auditors for the Commission, among other responsibilities. Where is the Governing Board that ought to be a check and balance for the NIDCOM of today? None! It means that decisions and ideas are made and implemented unilaterally by NIDCOM. When some persons wish to make a case to discourage the establishment of a Governing Board for NIDCOM, they usually say, “Hey, Nigerians in diaspora are not united.”
If Nigerians abroad are not united, why is this political crowd traveling abroad to seek their collective support for so-called investment? Are Nigerians living in Nigeria united? Is it not the politicians who continue to divide us along ethnic and religious lines to perpetuate their tactics of divide and rule?
From Buhari to Tinubu, we know that this APC government despises and disrespects Nigerians in the diaspora. During his tenure, late President Buhari appointed at least 209 board chairmen and 1,258 board members. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed board chairpersons for over 42 federal organizations. Why has Tinubu, who was in the diaspora, neglected the establishment of a governing board for NIDCOM? Why is NIDCOM different? Who is afraid of a Governing board for NIDCOM?
They are probably afraid that establishing a governing board for NIDCOM may give Nigerians in the diaspora a stronger voice in contributing to building the Nigeria of our good dreams. It is enough for them to quote the billions of naira remitted by the diaspora regularly. This deliberate neglect and disrespect are the reasons why Nigerians in the diaspora must be challenged to mobilize their friends and families during the 2027 elections to do the needful when they cast their votes. We need a government that respects us.
Watch out; the politicians may arrange attendees to sing the obsequious praise of “on your mandate we shall stand” in a sycophantic display of loyalty and an unconvincing exhibition of efficiency. What changed in Nigeria after their political jamboree when Tinubu visited King Charles III? Indeed, this jamboree to Canada is nothing but fruitless politics. Unfortunately, it is ironic and self-contradictory that the same President Tinubu who claimed to have reduced his convoy to cut costs is supporting a very costly political jamboree to faraway Canada, at a cost that may never be disclosed.
The government should know better what must be done to attract investors. Dancing with aso-ebi from a country in darkness and insecurity does not attract investors. The government must focus on fixing electricity, the high cost of governance, security, roads, demonic corruption, and the visible development of other critical infrastructures.
Respect the rights of Nigerians and stop arresting, detaining, and killing unarmed protesters. Fixing these will attract foreign investors seamlessly, not political jamborees. Nigeria is too naturally endowed to beg, borrow, or be poor. Stop wasting public funds to organize talk shows and social events to talk about talking.
Comrade Frederick Odorige,
Global Coordinator of the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, USA.
Ex-President, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Hungary.
