Nigerians Abroad Present Alternative to 2027 Elections
One important thing for the diasporans to take to heart is that, allowing any elections to take place in Nigeria soonest or in 2027 without addressing the fundamental problems of restructuring the country Nigeria and jettisoning the faulty 1999 constitution, will amount to a bunch of ploys, which as a retrogressive political tactics, has an end. Why wait for an elusive change, when we can make a realistic one happen and as soon as possible.
Home is home, no matter what or the situations. It is interesting to note that America adopted homeland, Russia chose motherland, and Germany fatherland. However, home is sweet only when there is hope. Take cognizance of the fact that there is hope only when there is life. To this end therefore, and in accordance with a popular Yoruba dictum, “when you see a man who on waking up in the morning, takes to his heels, if nothing is chasing him, he must be in pursuit of something”. With words we govern men said Benjamin Disraeli, to which we have a corollary. By Proverbs we enliven copy, adages never age. It is worthy of mention that, the Diasporans are a group of people who have been dispersed from their original homeland to other parts of the world. Often due to cogent reasons such as cogent immigration concerns, including reunion with families, conflicts and economic opportunities. It can create a very strong transitional identities and connections. From the reports of the incessant incidents of boat accidents on the Mediterranean Sea, with fatality involving a high number of Nigerians as well as other illegal migrants from other African countries, is a pointer to the possibility that only a small fraction of the number of immigrants from Nigeria, left the country leaving behind rosy or better life. Just trying to drive home a point on why the Nigerian diaspora should have a say in the affairs of their country, especially by being able to exercise their voting rights from anywhere abroad. Otherwise, the government of the homeland is seeing and using them as money spinning machine. By extension, they are also being considered as fools and used in a hunting game, to help comb a part of the forest for their wise counterparts who are gun down the approaching animals.
The most recent advocacy work of the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, canvassing for increase in the economic participation of the Nigerian Diaspora, is an allusion to her insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians, careless about their predicament as long as their remittances are ensured. Note also, that the All Progressive Congress Party (APC) has been in power since 2015, with late Muhammadu Buhari’s 8 years tenure with the current president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the National leader of APC. The leaders who could not achieve the diaspora voting in about 10 years should not be taken seriously. For instance, a suggested estimate has it that in the United States, there are about 460,000 to 500,000 Nigerian born resident. When you include the US born descendant, the total Nigerian add on community is about 700,000 to 850,000. In the United Kingdom, around 270,000 people were born in Nigeria with broader estimate of Nigeria Diaspora ranging from about 300,000 to 500,000 depending on how the group is defined.
On remittances which constitute the backbone of the economy of the country, there is no specific data isolating the remittances from the United States to Nigeria in 2026, however in February 2026, total monthly diaspora remittances average around 600million USD, with a goal of reaching1 billion dollars per month. In 2025, total remittance reached about 25 billion dollars. The total remittance from the UK to Nigeria was about 23 billion dollars and in 2024, the UK quarterly remittances was roughly about 2.04 billion pounds. These remittances in themselves are monumental investments. It is interesting to note with dismay that, all the trips of Mr. President abroad as the chief marketing officer of the country did not result in direct foreign investment of any amount close to the diasporans remittances, even when 25 billion Naira was the cost of his travel expenses in one year.
The non participation of the Nigerian diaspora in the country’s election exercises is counterproductive and with dire consequences. Note that about three quarters of African countries allow diasporan votings. For example, Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia have formal systems in place, though some of these with some logistics problems, but that notwithstanding. Nigeria and Kenya have constitutional rights on the books, but awaiting implementation. Other countries like Zimbabwe, Uganda and Tanzania are still debating it. Despite the challenges in diaspora votings, the benefits are huge. These include, strengthening democracy by giving citizens a say in their home countries, keep them connected and does boost political engagements and a sense of national unity even from afar. However, if the diaspora doesn’t participate and voices might be left out in shaping the policies that affect them. It can lead to a lack of representation reinforce the disconnect between the government and its global citizens. Similarly, it can weaken democracy overall, as it restricted stake holders in shaping the future of their countries. Furthermore, worthy of mention are the names of some outstanding and prominent Nigerians who have attained the status of global citizens by reason of excellent accomplishments in their fields of specialization. In the United States for example, are Dr. Jacqueline Nwando Olayiwola, is a Nigerian American physician who was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine in 2022 for her work in health equity and public health. Then Robert Silvester Okojie, is a Nigerian American aerospace Engineer with over 20 patents, well known for his work in high temperature electronics especially with NASA. Next is Tope Awotona, who is a successful Nigerian born Entrepreneur who founded Calendly, a scheduling App in 2005, the year he relocated to the United States. He nurtured the business until it became a billion dollar company in 2025. However, he was honored with the Great Carnagie immigrant award for his significant impact on businesses and society. Also, here are three names of prominent Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom and these include, Nneka Abulokwe, honoured in 2019 with OBE for her services to business especially in governance inclusion and leadership in corporate world. Next is Chiwetel Ejiofor, honoured with OBE in 2008 for outstanding contribution to drama, particularly in film production, and Felicia Kwaku was honoured with OBE for her outstanding contributions to education and nursing in 2020. It is instructive to note that many Nigerians abroad are hesitant visiting or returning to Nigeria their homeland due to several key factors including, economic uncertainty and lack of stable job opportunities, security concerns like rising crimes, weak institutions and bureaucracy, social reintegration challenges and family ties in their host countries. Without improvements in safety, job prospects and institutional reliability, many remain reluctant to return.
This situation challenges the government of the day if serious, which has to create more attractive environment, that is, security, real economic opportunities and institutional trust. When they cannot offer all that is required as the case is in Nigeria today, they risk a brain drain, losing their best talents and deepening the gap between the diaspora and home. What is urgently needed now in Nigeria is a tangible change and enough of the renewed hope slogan. One important thing for the diasporans to take to heart is that, allowing any elections to take place in Nigeria soonest or in 2027 without addressing the fundamental problems of restructuring the country Nigeria and jettisoning the faulty 1999 constitution, will amount to a bunch of ploys, which as a retrogressive political tactics, has an end. Why wait for an elusive change, when we can make a realistic one happen and as soon as possible. The Great Nigerian Diaspora, there is no point waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel when we can lighten our tunnel as we go. This is a piece of advice and words of caution to the Northerners, please, accept the idea of restructuring the country peacefully, and in an atmosphere that permits conversations. This is because either way, restructuring is being perpetrated and is to be forced on them whether they like it or not. For instance, the establishment of the development commissions in the six geopolitical zones of the country and the planned introduction of the state police, are the major and integral parts of restructuring. You may wish to know that the lingering and escalating problems of insecurity can be connected to the goal of achieving the restructuring of Nigeria, an idea that the North have always been against. As a matter of fact, the North needs to come to terms with the reality that, the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria is predicated on the restructuring of Nigeria, and it is now or never. It is therefore possible to fix Nigeria in a short period of 4 years, provided the leader knows what the fundamental problems are and ready to confront them head on. Any promises by any aspirants of any political parties to turn Nigeria into Dubai through a well-crafted manifestoes are unrealistic and deceptive.
This is a clarion call to all well-meaning Nigerians in diaspora, to rise up to the occasion, seize the moment and bring about the long awaited and elusive change, if we desire a sustainable homeland that we can call our own, visit, and return to any time without hindrances. All Nigerian Diaspora Organisations such as The Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation Americans (NIDO), and The Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation UK, are called upon for actions, that we may have a secure and prosperous homeland to own and bequeath to our children. Regardless of what we call our home, whether fatherland, motherland, or homeland, what is important is for us to have an ancestral home. It is Only a bastard child that uses the left hand to point at his father’s home. Remember how in Egypt a king that knew not Joseph ascended the throne. How do you know that President Donald Trump cannot wake up one day and revoke our citizenship of the United States of America and send us packing to where? God forbid.
God bless Nigeria.
By Samuel Tunji Adeyanju
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