Abike Dabiri-Erewa, head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has urged the federal government to secure compensation for citizens forced to flee South Africa. Speaking in Abuja, she highlighted the hardships faced by those who abandoned their livelihoods and property. She emphasized that the state must address these grievances rather than ignoring them. Furthermore, she reported that NiDCOM has successfully managed over 1,200 cases involving the mistreatment of Nigerians abroad.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Senator George Akume, expressed his intent to utilize the skills of diaspora professionals to improve Nigeria’s healthcare sector. Addressing critical issues such as poor infrastructure and staffing shortages, the President proposed initiatives like the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative and expanded medical missions. He plans to incentivize returning professionals and facilitate partnerships with local teaching hospitals.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, noted that medical experts from around the globe are already collaborating with the government to provide free surgeries and training across Nigeria. The government is also working to improve the welfare of domestic health workers to mitigate personnel migration while building digital systems to incorporate international expertise into the national health framework.
