‘Nigeria Must Not Look Away’: Dabiri-Erewa Demands Compensation For Nigerians Forced Out Of South Africa
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called on the Federal Government to demand compensation for Nigerians who were forced to abandon their jobs, businesses and property in South Africa before returning home.
Speaking on Friday at the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration, NiDCOM Youth Summit and National Diaspora Merit Award in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa described the experiences of the affected Nigerians as heartbreaking, insisting that the country must not ignore their plight.
“That South Africa thing is pathetic, really. Nigeria should not look the other way. We must demand compensation for Nigerians who have been roughly treated and who had to leave everything.
“They had jobs. They left everything they ever owned, and they’re back home. I know their lives will be better now that they are back in Nigeria,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa also disclosed that NiDCOM’s legal department has handled more than 1,200 cases involving detention, abuse and other forms of maltreatment of Nigerians abroad in collaboration with the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to her, many of the cases were successfully resolved through diplomatic engagements and legal interventions, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to harnessing the expertise of Nigerians in the diaspora to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President acknowledged that Nigeria continues to face challenges including inadequate healthcare infrastructure, shortage of skilled medical personnel, gaps in specialised care and policy inconsistencies.
He, however, expressed confidence that the expertise of Nigerians abroad could help bridge those gaps.
“We know the challenges our healthcare system faces. Inadequate infrastructure in many communities, shortages of skilled medical personnel, gaps in research, innovation and specialised care, policy inconsistency, and so on. These challenges are not insurmountable.
“With the collective strength of our diaspora, we can transform them into opportunities. Our administration is determined to build bridges between diaspora expertise and local institutions,” Tinubu said.
The President said the Federal Government would institutionalise the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative, expand diaspora medical missions nationwide, strengthen partnerships between Nigerian teaching hospitals and diaspora professionals, promote telemedicine, encourage diaspora-led investments in healthcare, and introduce incentives for medical professionals willing to return home to practise or invest.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the active participation of Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad had demonstrated the success of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that the initiative had attracted surgeons, specialist nurses, pharmacists, gynaecologists and infectious disease experts from across the world to provide free medical services, perform specialised procedures, train local health workers and strengthen healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
Salako added that the Federal Government is also implementing measures to improve the welfare of health workers while creating digital platforms that will enable Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute more effectively to the development of the country’s health sector.
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