The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has lauded the contributions of Nigerians in the Diaspora to national development with its $21 billion remittances in the last one year, saying it is the highest in Africa. Anyim, also stated that Nigerians in Diaspora
were excelling in their various fields of human
endeavors and have continued to contribute to
national development, particularly in the
educational and health sectors. He said: “They have donated educational
materials such a books and computers; medical
equipment and drugs. They have also organized
many free medical missions to many
communities in Nigeria through such groups as
Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas; Anambra State Association (ASA);
Women and Calvary Torch International. “During the 2012 Medical Mission by ASA Women
to six communities in Anambra State, about 6,000
patients were treated of various ailments
including cervical cancer. From available records,
Nigerians in Diaspora remitted about $21 billion
in the last one year, which the highest in Africa. This figure does not include unrecorded sums
sent through private individuals.” The SGF promised that the federal government
was committed to providing every necessary
support and encouragement to the Nigerian
Diaspora to enable them participate actively in
national affairs including the drafting of a
national policy on Nigerian Diaspora, which would be reviewed on the Diaspora week. He listed the activities of the diaspora day and
conference to include youth empowerment
programmes, medical missions, capacity building
workshops, the diaspora conference, review of
the diaspora policy, launch of the House
Committee on Diaspora’s magazine, diaspora micro, small and medium entrepreneur
programmes, and seminar and workshops
amongst others. Also the Chairman, House of Representatives
Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Arewa,
described Nigerian in the Diaspora as some of the
brightest in the world. Arewa-Dabiri said despite the sad news of
Nigerians in various prisons across the world,
majority of them are well behaved and
contributed more to development of their host
communities. She revealed that Nigeria did not have data on
how many of its citizens were living abroad and
under what circumstances because of lack of
information. “Our brothers and sister in diaspora are some of
the best you can find anywhere in the world.
Yes, there are those that are in prisons but there
are more who are doing brilliantly in many areas
in the world. To be honest, we do not even have
the data of Nigerians in Diaspora,” she said.

http://reportingnigeria.com/2014/08/remittance-nigerians-diaspora-highest-africa-policy-reviewed-anyim/

But people say Nigerians abroad are selfish.