Foreign Affairs Minister meets Nigerians in Netherlands, mulls granting dual citizenship

Foreign Affairs Minister meets Nigerians in Netherlands, mulls granting dual citizenship

Joel Oladele, Abuja 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has met with Nigerian professionals in the Netherlands ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s participation at the Nigeria-Dutch Business and Investment Forum.  

At the event which took place recently , the Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to exploring mechanisms for granting dual citizenship to Nigerians abroad and enabling diaspora voting in future elections.

According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the Minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir, he noted that the meeting also offered platform for fruitful discussions on various topics of importance to the Nigerian diaspora community. 

The Minister emphasized the importance of fostering strong ties between Nigeria and its diaspora communities worldwide. He highlighted the “Tinubu 4Ds” framework, which focuses on Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora as central pillars for engaging with Nigerians abroad.

Amb. Tuggar posited that “the administration of President Tinubu recognizes the immense potential of the Nigerian diaspora in driving national development” and that the government is committed to creating enabling environments for diaspora investments and contributions to key sectors of the economy. 

He also submitted that the government remains dedicated to upholding the dignity and rights of Nigerians living abroad. In addition to discussing the Tinubu 4Ds framework, the engagement also focused on investment opportunities in Nigeria. 

The Honourable Minister highlighted the favourable business climate, ongoing economic reforms, and investment incentives available to Nigerians in the diaspora interested in investing back home.

He also informed the gathering that the government is committed to ensuring Financial Vehicles such as the Diaspora Fund which will harness funds to be used for infrastructure, healthcare, and agricultural programmes. 

“One of the priorities of the government via its 4D Foreign Policy will prioritize the diaspora by establishing frameworks such as the Diaspora Fund and Sector-based communities that make it possible to harness the greatness of the Nigerian Diaspora in the Netherlands via its skills and ideas to drive development back home.” The statement partly read.