Vice President Kashim Shettima has highlighted Nigeria’s significant role in diaspora remittances within West Africa, noting the country’s global impact through its migrant community.
Speaking on Monday at the 10th Annual National Migration Dialogue held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima emphasized the critical role of migration in driving development at both national and global levels.
The event, themed “Beyond Borders: Celebrating Migrants’ Legacy, Protecting Their Rights,” provided a platform to discuss migration’s contributions and challenges.
Shettima revealed that Nigerian migrants sent home $21.9 billion in remittances in 2022, accounting for 64% of such inflows across West Africa.
He described this as evidence of the substantial economic value that Nigerian migrants bring to the nation.
Beyond financial contributions, he lauded Nigerians abroad as global trailblazers excelling in fields such as technology, medicine, sports, and the creative arts.
He also highlighted that startups founded by Nigerian migrants secured over $800 million in investments last year, showcasing the transformative power of their ingenuity.
Shettima noted Nigeria’s dual role as both a source and a destination for migrants, with over 1.3 million international migrants residing in the country.
However, he expressed concern over irregular migration, revealing that about 10,000 Nigerians were repatriated in 2024 for various migration-related offences.