An increasing number of foreign nationals are seeking Nigerian passports and expressing interest in settling in the country, according to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Director of Diaspora Mobilisation for the PBAT/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
Dabiri-Erewa made the disclosure on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja, where she outlined plans to mobilise Nigerians in the diaspora in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Speaking on the growing interest of non-Nigerians in acquiring Nigerian citizenship, she said her office had received numerous appeals from foreigners seeking assistance.
“On my table, you see a lot of people telling us to beg the President to be able to give them Nigerian passports. Ask the Minister of Interior. It’s too much,” she said.
She described the trend as a reflection of rising interest in Nigeria among foreign nationals, including those looking to invest and establish closer ties with the country. She cited the example of a woman who recently told her team on camera that she had come to Nigeria and did not intend to return to her previous country of residence.
Dabiri-Erewa also highlighted the contributions of Nigerians living abroad, describing them as vital stakeholders in national development. Diaspora remittances, she noted, exceed $20 billion annually, while Nigerians overseas are investing in healthcare, education, agriculture and information and communications technology.
On preparations for the 2027 presidential election, she said the diaspora directorate would implement a five-point strategic plan. This includes activating APC diaspora chapters across five continents, launching a digital campaign tagged “Operation Tell Your Story”, encouraging structured fundraising, promoting voter registration awareness, and countering misinformation about Nigeria and the Tinubu administration.
Although Nigerians abroad cannot currently vote from their countries of residence under existing laws, Dabiri-Erewa urged the National Assembly to amend the relevant legislation to enable diaspora voting. She maintained that those living overseas could still influence political conversations at home by engaging their families and communities.
Defending the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, she described the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange rate as difficult but necessary reforms aimed at addressing structural challenges.
She called for sustained collaboration between Nigerians at home and abroad. “Nigeria needs you, and you also need Nigeria. It’s a symbiotic relationship,” she said.
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