President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the few Nigerians
abroad indulging in criminal activities do not represent the values of majority
of the people of the country.
Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman in a statement in
Abuja, said President Buhari stated this when he met with leaders of the
Nigerian Community living in Japan.
The meeting was on the sidelines of the Seventh Tokyo
International Conference on African Development (TICAD7), on Thursday in
Yokohama, Japan.
The President declared: “Let me also say that there are few
Nigerians in the Diaspora that are giving us a bad name by engaging in criminal
activities.
“These Nigerians are a minority, they do not represent the
values of our country, and I plead with them to change their ways.
“We will not condone any crime whether at home or abroad,
and we will also not allow these Nigerians define us as a people with
reputation for criminality.”
While urging Nigerians in Japan to be good ambassadors of
their fatherland, the Nigerian leader said, “I am personally very happy that
there are millions of Nigerians all over the world, like you here, who are
truly making us proud.”
He described majority of the over 17 million Nigerians in
Diaspora as “the face of Nigeria globally and our ambassadors for good.”
The President noted that, “Many of our Diasporans, like your
good selves here today, have excelled in varying fields of endeavor, both
professionally and individually.
“You have also made significant and overwhelmingly positive
contributions to your Nigerian and international host communities.
“You have continually been a positive bridge between Nigeria
and the world. It is not an easy feat and we commend you, salute your courage
and efforts.”
According to him, Japan is at the cutting edge of technology
and efficiency, ‘`two very important attributes that can play a role in Nigeria
and improve our capacity for development.”
President Buhari urged members of his audience to continue
to contribute their quota by helping to develop their host country and Nigeria
as well.
He added: “I look forward to your inborn gift, ability, and
capacity in taking up this challenge.”
He also commended many of them who had been “positively
impacting the Nigerian economy through financial home remittances, promoting
international trade in Nigerian commodities, our music, culture, tourism,
sports, and education.
The Nigerian leader noted with delight that some of them had
also helped to establish industries in Nigeria.
The President urged them “to encourage legitimate Japanese
entrepreneurs to come and invest in Nigeria.”
“We are continually working to create the necessary enabling
environment for investors to thrive, through improvements in our Ease of Doing
Business practices, providing security, diversification of the economy,
infrastructure and fighting corruption.
“We have put in place the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan
(ERPG) to put the country on a path of sustained recovery and growth,’’ he
said.
The president further explained the rationale for his
regular meetings with Nigerians abroad and the establishment of the Nigerians
in Diaspora Commission.
President Buhari said: “As you are aware, I have regularly
held town hall meetings with Nigerians in the Diaspora on all my foreign
engagements be they in Europe, Asia, America and Africa.
“At these fora, I have always, appealed to our citizens to
be our good ambassadors, observe the laws of your host countries, excel in
whatever you do legitimately, and also remember us at home (Nigeria).
“I have established the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission
specifically to engage with you, signifying a coordinated attempt by our
administration to increase the involvement of our Diaspora in our national
development.
“Collectively, your resources, skills, and talents will be a
positive force for our country which can help accelerate our national growth
and development.”
In her remarks, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Diaspora
Commission, who coordinated the event, described the President as “the most
Diaspora-friendly leader we have had in Nigeria.”
The event, according to the presidential aide, witnessed “a
parade of the brightest and best of our citizens, plying their trade in
Japan.’’
Prof. Ejiogu Emenike, President, Nigerians in Diaspora
Organisation Asia (NIDOASIA) and an energy expert, commended President Buhari
for efficient leadership, and disclosed that his members had “comparative
advantages in human capital development, which we are trying to bring back to
Nigeria.”
He added: “Any problem that science and technology can
solve, we are able to, and we can help Nigeria in areas of need.”
Mr Ochade Osakwe, Chairman, Nigeria/Japan Chambers of
Commerce and Industry, recounted businesses that had been attracted to Nigeria
in recent times, promising to do more, as the security and investment climates
back home improved further.
Mr Nnaji Fintan, the President of Nigerian Union in Japan,
asked for more exploits in the areas of education, quality infrastructure and
security, which incidentally, are focal points of the current administration.
Other in attendance of the meeting included academics,
industrialists, top businessmen, scientists, economists, and many others.
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