Nigerians abroad should show more interest in what is happening at home instead of just criticising the authorities, the facilitator of Nigeria Diaspora Network, Mr. Funmi Omosule, has said.
United States of America-based Omosule, said Nigerians in Diaspora were expected to be engaged in the development of their fatherland and are required to show more interest and bring their international exposure and expertise to bear on government policies and core infrastructural development.
“Unfortunately, the majority of Nigerians in Diaspora are too far from the workings of the government back home. This has to change because Nigerians in Diaspora, if well organised and effectively coordinated can change the game at home”, he stated.
Noting that Nigerians abroad can undertake many projects without the government, Omosule however, lamented that over-concentration of power at the centre means that one will need the approval of the government in Abuja to get things done in local areas.
He said: “One of the reasons it is difficult for many Nigerians in the Diaspora to set up in Nigeria is the fact that you need Abuja mostly for official paperworks and approvals for big time set ups unlike if we have a decentralised system where you only need local authorities to get things done within the locality of the site of whatever projects to be set up.”
By continuing to give ease of doing business the priority it deserves, he expressed the hope that the federal government would ultimately make it easier for Nigerians in Diaspora to come home and start projects.
Besides, Omosule also observed that many Nigerians abroad do not trust the government at home.
He said: “Since 2008, I had been interacting with Nigerians in the Diaspora across the world and one major take is the issue of incompetent mediocres running the show and dominating the political landscape at home.
“I did my best persuading professionals in the Diaspora to come and assist the governments of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan between 2000 and 2015 but majority are of the opinions that there are too many dirty political leaders betraying public trusts and Nigerian masses are asleep and not demanding accountability from the leaders as obtainable in their respective countries of residence.
“I share some of the sentiments but I insist that efforts must start to assemble some cautiously optimistic Nigerian professionals in Diaspora to form a formidable coalition and approach Mr President through the Nigeria Diaspora Commission to start laying a solid foundation for the engagement of Nigerians in Diaspora in assisting in the development of Nigeria.
“They can put their professional experience, competence and knowledge of international best practices into use at home.Fortunately, President Muhammadu Buhari recently threw an open invitation to Nigerian professionals abroad to come and work with the administration to develop Nigeria. The time is ripe now.”
