The Federal Ministry of Finance has stated that Nigerians living abroad have, within the last six months of this year, remitted a total sum of $10.40 billion back home. Last year,diaspora Nigerians sent home a total of $20.77 billion.
Paul Nwabuikwu, who is the Special Adviser on media to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in a press statement he issued on behalf of the Minister stated that the remittances include contributions to families, friends and communities, as well as medical missions and provision of scholarships.
According to the statement, in response to the long-standing desire of the Nigerians in diaspora to support economic development in the country, a high level Executive-Legislative team is at the moment holding series of interactive sessions with Nigerians in Europe and the United States.
The sessions, which is organized by the Debt Management Office led by its Director-General, Dr Abraham Nwankwo, is headed by the Finance Minister and includes key members of relevant committees in the National Assembly.
It gave some members of the National Assembly attending the event to include: Senator Ahmed Makarfi Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator E. Uzamere, Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Ita Enang, Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Adeyinka Ajayi, Chairman, House Committee on Aid, Loans and Debt Management.
Others are; Famurewa Ajibola Israel, House Committee on Diaspora, Honourable Abdulrahman Terab, House Committee on Finance and Honourable Emmanuel David Ombugadu, House Committee on Appropriation.
The statement explained further that the meetings which began in London, will continue in New York, Washington DC and Houston between September 2-4, 2014.
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