By RAHILA LASSA, Abuja

The Nigerian Government says it is set for the annual National Diaspora Investment Summit.

Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said this at a media briefing ahead of the 2020 National Diaspora Day, which is slated for the 25th of July, in Abuja Nigeria.

She said the diaspora forms an integral part of a nation whether host or homeland, but more importantly to the country of origin.

“This reason alone forms the basis to set aside a day to applaud our diasporas and dialogue issues affecting the diaspora. Nigeria cherishes and lauds the efforts of all her diasporas worldwide that a Commission was established to ‘engage and utilise the human, capital and material resources of this demography in the socio-economic, cultural and political development of Nigeria,” she said.

She said the achievements made by the Diasporans in the last one year were commendable.

Following series of interventions to ameliorate attacks on black Africans in South Africa including Nigerians, the Commission received the first and second batches of stranded Nigerians back home in Lagos on September 11, 2019, and September 18, 2019.

A total of 501 returnees consisting of 187 and 314 Nigerians respectively.

“They received SIM Cards worth of N40,000 airtime plus 9GB of data valid for two months, as well as, a soft loan from the Bank of Industry to support those interested in small trade and businesses.

“A programme of re-integration has been put in place with the support of some NGOs and their respective states of origin which had been written by NiDCOM after the returnees had been profiled for necessary assistance.

“Currently, as COVID-19 is still on the rampage, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian Missions around the world have evacuated and still evacuating stranded Nigerians anywhere in the world,” the NIDCOM Chairman said.