The Minister of Interior Dr. Olubumi Tunji-Ojo says the nation’s Immigration policy will be reviewed to meet the current realities.
He made this known in Abuja when he received the Chairman and management staff of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM on a courtesy visit in his office.
Mr. Tunji-Ojo who said the immigration law of every nation should be based on reciprocity explained that when the laws are reviewed, any country that grants Nigerians visa on arrival, Nigeria would treat it citizens the same way.
He said the Federal Government the Federal Ministry of Interior would provide the necessary support required by NiDCOM in providing services to Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo said NiDCOM was one of the most important government agencies in the country whose role should not be restricted to welfarerism alone, but to also provide solutions for the future of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
On the delays and long distance Nigerians in Diaspora had to travel before being captured for their passports, the minister of Interior said the printing machine in London would be increased to four to serve more people in the United Kingdom.
He said the twenty-six billion dollars (26 billion dollars) remittance by the Nigerians in Diaspora was arguably larger than the nation’s budget hence the need to create an enabling environment for those in Diaspora to invest more back home.
‘NiDCOM deserve all the support needed to carryout it functions and the ministry of interior would provide that support to ensure you have succeeded. Your budget should be special to enable you carry out the task ahead of you’.
The chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NiDCOM Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa who appreciated the Minister for the leadership he provided in passport administration in the country, said Nigerians in Diaspora appreciates the transformation going on in the sector.
She informed the minister that since the commencement of Nigerians in Diaspora Investment summit which holds annually, many hospitals had been build and managed by Nigerian medical Doctors in the Diaspora.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said many Nigerians in the Diaspora were doing a lot of the commission was working towards ensuring that the positive image of the nation were being projected.
She lamented the low budgetary allocation for the commission despite the huge task ahead.