Senator Aniekan Bassey has made a powerful appeal for Nigeria to forge deeper international alliances to protect its citizens living overseas. The call emphasizes the critical need for enhanced diplomatic efforts in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Diaspora Contributions and Challenges Highlighted
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Senator Aniekan Bassey, PhD, made this urgent plea during a recent Committee strategy session. He stressed that Nigeria cannot afford to operate in isolation, particularly as issues like migration, global security, foreign employment, and cross-border education grow more intricate.
Senator Bassey underscored the immense value of the Nigerian diaspora, describing them as a vital national asset. He pointed out their significant contributions through:
- Financial remittances
- Direct investments back home
- Professional networks
- Valuable knowledge transfer
Addressing Critical Vulnerabilities Abroad
The lawmaker painted a sobering picture of the daily hurdles many Nigerians face in foreign lands. These challenges are diverse and often severe, including:
Navigating complex immigration systems, confronting workplace discrimination, suffering from a lack of adequate legal protection, and experiencing limited access to consular support. In some cases, these vulnerabilities can even become life-threatening.
Senator Bassey argued that overcoming these issues requires more than isolated efforts. He asserted that only sustained collaboration with foreign governments, international agencies, and established diaspora institutions can yield the long-term solutions necessary to secure the welfare of Nigerians abroad.
A Legislative Priority for Global Engagement
Outlining a concrete plan of action, Senator Bassey disclosed that his Committee will intensify its outreach. This involves ramping up dialogue with Nigerian embassies and consulates worldwide, engaging global migration bodies, and directly consulting with Nigerian communities abroad.
The goal is to establish more structured channels for reporting grievances, monitoring welfare concerns proactively, and ultimately improving Nigeria's international representation. For Senator Bassey, strengthening global partnerships is not merely a diplomatic nicety but a core legislative priority.
He maintained that this focus will directly influence future policy reforms, shape beneficial international agreements, and bolster Nigeria's reputation on the world stage. The Senator gave his assurance that the Committee, under his leadership, will relentlessly champion initiatives that reflect Nigeria's unwavering commitment to protecting its citizens, no matter where they choose to reside.
