The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has partnered FirstBank Group to bolster diaspora banking services for Nigerians abroad.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this during an interview on the sidelines of the seventh edition of the National Diaspora Day celebration and national merit award 2025 on Friday in Abuja.

She said the commission inaugurated the Diaspora Home and Abroad platform designed to provide Nigerians living abroad with safe, reliable and accessible housing options.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said, “This partnership will help Nigerian citizens in the diaspora to secure the house of their choice. I would like to thank FirstBank for their partnership; we are launching what you call the home and abroad scheme. A lot of them have issues with fear of wanting to buy a house and getting duped. So, through partnership with FirstBank, we are going to have a secure platform where your money is secured with Firstbank. You later pay your developer and then you get your home without being duped. This is concrete solutions, and we encourage diaspora to all key in.”

In separate interview, the Head of Technology, Transfer, Innovation and Investment, NIDCOM, Abdulrahman Terab, said that the challenges some people living in the diasporas faced was having a secure and credible platform, where they could easily and reliably access housing for themselves or their loved ones here in Nigeria.

He said, “One of the most long-standing challenges that we met on ground is that a lot of people have sent various sums of money to acquaintances, friends and well-wishers across the country, and then eventually end up not having this house after some time, amidst spending huge sums of resources. We also realised from our own perspective that the diaspora company is an economic company. We need to incentivise the diaspora to ensure their investments are safe and they get value for what they spend. Also, one of the most attractive spaces in the Nigerian economy for the diaspora is the housing sector,” he said.

Mr Terab said that most Nigerians abroad were not permanent settlers and they want to have connection with their home country and prepare for retirement in most cases.

He reiterated that the platform would enable Nigerians in diaspora to seamlessly identify houses of their choice and make payments.

According to him, this will ensure that what they see is what they eventually get and that they get value for their money.

Also, the platform would encourage diaspora direct investment into the country.

“Nigerians who are in the diaspora, who do not have confidence in our financial, economic and transaction sectors will now have that comfort and peace of mind to do business in Nigeria,” he added.

Mr Terab stated that the commission was working with the Federal Mortgage Bank to establish the NHF diaspora mortgage scheme.

He explained that the commission partnered with FirstBank because it’s big, strong, and reliable.

” FirstBank, apart from being the largest, also has a wide coverage of financial services across the financial sector. We are trying to sell confidence, reliability and peace of mind. FirstBank is not only a partner, it creates special accounts for this product,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank Group, Olusegun Alebiosu, said that the Nigerians in the diaspora had become an essential force in the nation’s national development journey contributing over 20 billion dollars in annual remittances.

Mr Alebiosu, represented by the Head of Brand Strategy and Financial Planning, FirstBank, Abimbola Meshinoye, said that the partnership would further boost the bank’s international reputation and deepen socio-economic ties with other nations.

According to him, beyond remittances, the diaspora represents a wellspring of knowledge, values, investment and goodwill that, if optimally harnessed, can fast-track path to inclusive growth and global competitiveness.

Mr Alebiosu added, “Through our bespoke diaspora banking solutions, we ensure that Nigerians abroad remain closely connected to home. From multi-currency accounts and seamless digital platforms to advisory support and investment facilitation, we are committed to making home accessible, wherever our people may be. We understand that for the diaspora to fully contribute to nation building, there must be credible institutions, efficient infrastructure, financial inclusion, and a sustainable ecosystem of trust and opportunity.

“This is why FirstBank invests in platforms that empower Nigerians globally, including support for diaspora bonds, knowledge transfer initiatives, youth mentorship, schemes and capital inflows targeted at critical sectors such as infrastructure, energy, health, agriculture and education. Our partnership with NiDCOM is a reflection of our shared vision, one where national development is both home-grown and globally inspired.’’

(NAN)