President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians in the diaspora to play a more active role in national development, declaring that the country is entering a new era of stability and economic opportunity.
Addressing Nigerians in Japan, on Thursday at the Kahala Hotel and Resort, Yokohama, during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), the president emphasised that rebuilding Nigeria cannot be left to the government alone.
“I am happy to listen to you. I’m happy to report that many of our people are returning home,” Tinubu said.
He further said, “For economic reasons, some people might decide to stay away. It is a fundamental right of the individual. But for the economic growth and opportunity available in Nigeria, don’t stay away. Your contribution is very much needed. If you stay away, who will build it?”
The president highlighted reforms undertaken since his inauguration, including fuel subsidy removal, currency liberalisation, investment-friendly policies, healthcare upgrades to reduce medical tourism, and improved passport services.
He stressed that leadership required both vision and delivery, adding, “True citizenship is not only in holding a passport, but in character, integrity, and commitment to national progress.”
Thursday’s appeal was the culmination of a sustained effort by the Tinubu administration to court diaspora involvement.
At the 2023 National Diaspora Day, the president pledged to include Nigerians abroad in policy formulation, pointing to $21.9 billion in remittances the previous year — over four times Nigeria’s foreign direct investment.
The momentum carried into the 2024 and 2025 Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summits, where Tinubu described Nigerians overseas as “an indispensable asset.” Reforms soon translated into financial gains: by September 2024, monthly remittances had more than doubled, reaching $600 million. The Central Bank announced plans for a diaspora bond aimed at attracting up to $1 billion per month.
At this year’s National Diaspora Day in Abuja, Tinubu confirmed that remittances through official channels totalled $20.93 billion in 2024, again surpassing foreign direct investment.
He hailed the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for initiatives such as the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, Diaspora Data Mapping, the National Diaspora Merit Award, and the Badagry Door of Return Festival.
He also positioned the diaspora as the fourth pillar of his “4D Agenda” alongside Democracy, Demography, and Development.
The session in Yokohama brought together professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, and students. Emeka Ebogota, President of the Nigerian Union in Japan, praised Tinubu’s engagement and pledged the community’s support.
Top government officials attended, including Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Solid Minerals Minister Dele Alake, Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu, Finance Minister of State Doris Uzoka-Anite, and Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate.
Tinubu closed by expressing optimism about Nigeria’s trajectory, saying, “All I want to do is assure you that things are stable, the economy is stabilised, the opportunity is immense, people are coming back, and we are seeing the beginning of Nigeria rising.”
