Nigerians in Diaspora contributed between $20 billion to $25 billion to the Federal Government coffer, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama said yesterday.
He disclosed that the ministry is making plans to build a strong data base that would capture Nigerians living in 119 countries for a good business partnership among Nigerians.
The minister who stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja, hinted that the ministry would need information on Nigerians living abroad including data of businesses and services they would render to the world.
According to him, through the data, Nigeria could supply goods and services to various countries while using Nigerians in various countries as point of contact. “We have representation in over 119 countries all over the world, and we are saying that through an embassy, consulate or a commission, we can leverage on it for the benefit of our economy.
“Already, the Federal Government realizes between $20 billion to #25 billion from Nigerians in Diaspora. We are proposing to develop a match-making data base arrangement for Nigerians in Diaspora. What we need is information about their businesses, themselves and what they want to sell to the world and we will have that data base filled and accessible in all the 119 countries.”
Explaining further, Onyeama said: “We will have an officer in each country whose task will be to get into the data base, see to those who need or order for services, or could have a market access in a particular country and then develop a programme or project to push it in that country.
“It will be a one stop shop for all Nigerian business people and they will have market access into up to 119 countries. That is without going through all kinds of bottlenecks, without all kinds of fees, direct real time free market access. That is the dream of any free market person.” (Daily Sun)
