VIDEO: FG COMMENDS NIGERIANS IN U.S., DIASPORA PLEDGES DEEPER COLLABORATION ON NATIONAL ISSUES

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Federal Government has commended Nigerians living in the United States for their resilience, patriotism and sustained commitment to Nigeria’s growth and development, as members of the diaspora pledged stronger collaboration with the country’s leadership.

The commendation was given during a joint virtual meeting organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in collaboration with the Nigerian Centre, Washington, on December 21, 2025.

Speaking at the webinar, the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, urged Nigerians in the diaspora to continue drawing attention to critical national issues, particularly recent security developments. He acknowledged that Nigeria is facing serious violence in parts of the country but stressed that unity and focused collective action, rather than blame, are required to address the challenges.

Gbajabiamila emphasised that cooperation would be key to resolving the security crisis, recalling how the United States rallied together in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. He called on Nigerians to rise above ethnic and religious divisions and unite against insurgency and violence.

In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, dismissed claims that Nigeria is facing “genocide,” describing such narratives as misleading. He said the country’s security challenges are rooted in regional conflicts and warned that misdiagnosing the problem would lead to ineffective solutions.

Tuggar identified several contributing factors to Nigeria’s security situation, including the collapse of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi, the failure of the European Union–Sahel strategy, and previous restrictions on the sale of arms to Nigeria. He reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the 4D Agenda of Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora.

Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM and facilitator of the conference, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said sustained engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora was crucial, noting that continuous dialogue fosters deeper understanding and more effective collaboration. She assured participants that all recommendations from the meeting would be compiled into a communiqué to be submitted to the President through the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The event was moderated by Mr. Gbenga Ogunjimi of the Nigerian Centre, Washington, who underscored the importance of diaspora engagement in diplomacy. He noted that the Nigerian diaspora represents the country’s global presence and stressed that diplomacy must extend beyond government-to-government relations.

Representatives of various diaspora groups called for stronger collaboration between the global Nigerian community and the Federal Government, pledging their readiness to support national efforts whenever called upon. They also advocated for the continuity of the forum, clearer identification of national issues, and the adoption of strategic, Nigeria-focused lobbying mechanisms.

About 15 Nigerian diaspora groups across the United States, represented by their leadership, participated in the virtual meeting.