The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its newly adopted policy to grant unfettered access to forex from Diaspora Remittances.
The Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike
Dabiri-Erewa, gave the commendation while hosting the first Honorary
Consul of Colombia to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Hon. Maricel Romero
Cantillo during a courtesy visit to the Commission in Abuja.
A statement released in Abuja on Tuesday to 9NewsNigeria by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head, Media and Public Relations Unit (NIDCOM) quoted Dabiri-Erewa as saying that Nigerians in the diaspora are happy with the policy which will ultimately impact positively on diaspora remittances and investments in Nigeria, saying the Commission has already set machinery in motion to set up the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust Fund.
Dabiri-Erewa said the beneficiaries of remittances by Nigerians in the
Diaspora will get their money in the currency of transmission, rather
than in naira, and advised them to patronize registered bureau de change
legally in operation while urging the CBN to further reduce the levies
charged by IMTOs on remittances, with that of Nigeria being the highest
in the world.
The NIDCOM boss said she was happy to receive Columbia’s first honorary
consul to Nigeria and said it was an opportunity to engage Nigerians in
Colombia and Colombians in Nigeria, to deepen cultural and trade
relations.
In her remarks, Hon. Maricel Romero Cantillo expressed her excitement to
be the first Honorary Colombia Consul to Nigeria, as she believes it
will strengthen the ties between Nigeria and Colombia.
Cantillo said she is hopeful for the future and looks forward to
strengthening commercial and cultural ties between both countries,
saying Colombia is a home for Nigerians and vice versa.
She added that Nigeria and Colombia share a lot of cultural similarities
and encouraged the NIDCOM Boss to make plans to engage the Nigerian
Community in Colombia as Nigerians are assets to their host country.
