President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians who relocated abroad to always remember that there is no place like home.
He recalled that he once lived and worked abroad but returned home to contribute his quota to build the country.
The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, spoke at the 2024 National Diaspora Day Celebrations in Abuja on Thursday.
Tinubu said he expected those abroad to bring back their experiences to support his development agenda.
He said, “As someone who once lived and worked abroad, I can attest that migration can be transformative and serious. In the 1970s, I went to the United States, where I studied and worked, before returning to Nigeria to contribute to nation-building.
“I, therefore, urge our citizens who relocate abroad to remember that there is no place like home. We expect them to bring back their experiences to support our development agenda.
Tinubu said the government would not hold anything against Nigerians who travelled abroad to seek better opportunities.
The President, however, urged them not to forget their country.
Tinubu said, “As we celebrate our diaspora community, we must acknowledge the implication of this phenomenon for our collective growth. We cannot begrudge our citizens who are seeking better opportunities abroad, but we must urge them not to forget their homeland.”
Tinubu disclosed that a total of $646m was raked in as diaspora remittances between January and May 2024.
He said, “The CBN has recently introduced some reforms in the sector. In January, remittances totalled $138.56m. We recorded $39m in February, $104m in March, $193m in April, and $365m in May 2024.
“The progression reflects the level of trust, and the positives that the mandatory reforms that the Central Bank has achieved.”
Tinubu disclosed that a recent estimate from the Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, suggests that around 200,000 to 250,000 Nigerians live in Canada.
Tinubu added, “Other estimates indicate that between 10 million and 114 million Nigerians are in diaspora, most living in other African countries.
“The Nigerian Immigration Service’s recent data showed that Nigeria recorded a significant increase in immigration, with 3.7 million citizens leaving the country between 2022 and September 2023. However, Nigeria also received 1.3 million immigrants during the same period, making us the 46th country with the most immigrants globally.”
