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The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has expressed concern about the presence and prevalence of fraudulent Nigerian diaspora groups.
In a letter signed by its Chairman/CEO, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and addressed to Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of Service of the Federation, Abuja, the commission highlighted the issue under the title “Phoney Nigerian Diaspora Groups.”
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Dabiri-Erewa pointed out that these deceptive diaspora groups are established with dubious motives, misrepresenting both the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission and the diaspora community in general.
She reminded that the Federal Government established the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission through the “Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Act 2017.” The purpose was to engage Nigerians living abroad in policies, projects, and the overall development of Nigeria.
She emphasized that NiDCOM is the primary agency for all diaspora and related matters in Nigeria, possessing a database of diaspora groups and collaborating with the Corporate Affairs Commission for their registration.
Dabiri-Erewa specifically mentioned a recent case where the Nigeria Diaspora Forum (NDF) advertised itself without being a registered group. NiDCOM investigated and found no evidence of its good intentions for engaging with Nigerians in the diaspora. As a response, NiDCOM issued a public rebuttal regarding the NDF’s activities.
In light of these developments, the NiDCOM CEO urged the Head of Service of the Federation to inform ministries, departments, and agencies about the situation. She emphasized the need for these entities to consult with the commission to authenticate engagements with diaspora groups before proceeding.
