By Festus Fifen.

Nigerians abroad have been called upon to show more interest in what is happening at home instead of just criticising the authorities for bad policies and political decision.

The facilitator, Nigeria Diaspora Network, Mr Funmi Omosule said this during a telephone interview from his base in United States of America.

Omosule, who was recently appointed by the Nigeria Diaspora Network as its international facilitator, said Nigerians in Diaspora were expected to be engaged in the development of their fatherland.

According to him, these set of people consisting of experts and professionals are therefore required to show  more interest in government policies and core infrastructural development so that they will be able to bring their international exposure to bear on these policies.

In his words, “Unfortunately, the majority of Nigerians in Diaspora are too far from the workings of the government back home. This has to change because Nigerians in Diaspora, if well organised and effectively coordinated can change the game at home”

Speaking Further, Omosule said,
Nigerians abroad can undertake many projects without the government. He, however, noted that over-concentration of power at the centre means that one will need the approval of the government in Abuja to get  things done in local areas.

“One of the reasons it is difficult for many Nigerians in the Diaspora to set up in Nigeria is the fact that you need Abuja mostly for official paperworks and approvals for big time set ups unlike if we have a decentralised system where you only need local authorities to get things done within the locality of the site of whatever projects to be set up.”

By continuing to give ease of doing business the priority it deserves, he expressed the hope that the federal government will ultimately make it easier for Nigerians in Diaspora to come home and start projects.

Omosule also observed that many Nigerians abroad do not trust the government at home.

“Since 2008, I had been interacting with Nigerians in the Diaspora across the world and  one major take is the issue of incompetent mediocres running the show and dominating the political landscape at home.
I did my best persuading professionals in the Diaspora to come and assist the governments of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan between 2000 and 2015  but majority are of the opinions that there are too many dirty political leaders betraying public trusts and Nigerian masses are asleep and not demanding accountability from the leaders as obtainable in their respective countries of residence.

“I share some of the sentiments but I insist that efforts must start to assemble some cautiously optimistic Nigerian professionals in Diaspora to form a formidable coalition and approach Mr President through the Nigeria Diaspora Commission to start laying a solid foundation for the engagement of Nigerians in Diaspora in assisting in the development of Nigeria. They can put their professional experience, competence and knowledge of international best practices into use at home.

Fortunately, President Muhammadu Buhari recently threw an open invitation to Nigerian professionals abroad to come and work with the administration to develop Nigeria. The time is ripe now.”

Heeding the president’s call,
the International Coordinator of Nigeria Diaspora Network, Engineer Samuel Atolaiye, recently said the group was already reaching out to Nigerian professionals in all countries of the world to bring them together  to work with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to change the game.

Omosule said these professionals would  also  come up with a Corporate Governance Code to run Nigeria as a smart economy.

He said:  “I am personally involved in facilitating locally to see a seamless penetration into the system and the country will benefit massively from such a beautiful initiative.

“The plan is being worked out anyway and I am very optimistic it will work out pretty well.”

He said President Buhari is passionate about developing Nigeria and promoting private sector participation.

He said: “Mr President already threw an open invitation to Nigerians in Diaspora to come and assist his administration. The Nigeria Diaspora Network already received the presidential invitation to come and assist the government, so it is now in the court of Nigeria Diaspora Network to select the best of cautiously optimistic Nigerian professionals in Diaspora worldwide to work out a very robust collaboration with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to transform Nigeria to a Smart economy.”