London: The President of the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA), Smart Nwobi, has called on the Federal Government to initiate steps to facilitate diaspora voting. Nwobi made the call at a summit organized by the National Association of Nigerian Students in Diaspora (NANS-D).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nwobi highlighted the significant contributions of millions of Nigerians abroad, whose remittances remain crucial to the nation’s economy. Despite their financial impact, many Nigerians living overseas continue to be excluded from participating in elections.
Nwobi, in a press release made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, emphasized that remittances have played a vital role in stabilizing households across the country. He referred to a World Bank report indicating that diaspora remittances to Nigeria in 2023 amounted to over 20.1 billion dollars.
Beyond financial contributions, Nwobi noted that Nigerians abroad possess expertise in critical sectors that could be leveraged for natio
nal development. He asserted that democracy in Nigeria cannot be considered complete if millions of its citizens are denied participation simply due to their location outside the country’s borders.
Furthermore, Nwobi advocated that granting voting rights to Nigerians residing outside the country would enhance the country’s democratic process. He also expressed concern over the ongoing harassment of Nigerian migrants in South Africa by groups such as Operation Dudula.
Nwobi urged the Nigerian government to collaborate with South Africa to address the issue of xenophobia. He stressed the importance of unity, stating, “South Africa and Nigeria must rise above the destructive politics of division. We cannot afford to watch Africans turn against each other when the rest of the world sees us as one.”