The Directorate of Diaspora Mobilisation under the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, asserting that his administration is actively tackling Nigeria’s foundational challenges ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
The directorate also unveiled a five-point strategic action plan to mobilise Nigerians living abroad in support of Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The Director of the Directorate of Diaspora Mobilisation, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, according to a statement on Thursday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
Dabiri-Erewa said the administration had chosen to confront the country’s longstanding challenges rather than continue managing them.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided not to manage our failures, but to confront boldly whatever it takes to fix the system. And it takes a courageous and selfless leader to do that,” she said.
She acknowledged that the administration’s reforms had been difficult but argued that they were intended to address deep-rooted weaknesses in the economy.
The five-point plan is designed to coordinate diaspora engagement, campaign communications, fundraising and mobilisation activities in support of Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
A key component is the ‘Operation Tell Your Story’ initiative, which will provide Nigerians abroad with short videos, infographics and other communication materials to explain government policies, highlight reforms and promote the administration’s stated achievements.
The directorate also plans to establish a structured fundraising framework for Nigerians in the diaspora willing to support campaign activities, including communication materials, town hall meetings and grassroots mobilisation, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Other aspects of the strategy include engagement with diaspora organisations, traditional institutions, professional associations, community leaders, students and business networks, as well as efforts to counter misinformation about Nigeria and the administration.
Dabiri-Erewa said the directorate would respond to misleading information by providing data and verified information about the country’s economic situation and investment climate.
“Our directorate will serve as a rapid-response hub in case of misinformation about Nigeria and the administration. We will provide credible data, fact-check and positive narratives about Nigeria’s investment climate, stabilisation of the economy and the future under President Tinubu,” she said.
The former lawmaker described Nigerians in the diaspora as important stakeholders in national development, citing their contributions through remittances, investments, professional expertise and business partnerships.
“Nigerians abroad are not outsiders. They are stakeholders. They are our doctors, nurses, engineers, students, traders, innovators and community leaders, who send over $20 billion annually back home in remittances,” she said.
She added that Nigerians living abroad also contribute through skills transfer, technology exchange, entrepreneurship and international business networks.
On diaspora voting, Dabiri-Erewa acknowledged that the issue remained under discussion but expressed hope that lawmakers would give it the attention it deserved, given the economic and social ties Nigerians abroad maintain with the country.
She also urged the media to work with the directorate to communicate the administration’s policies and programmes and encourage constructive engagement between the government and citizens.
According to the statement, the campaign strategy will focus on continuity, national development and the administration’s ambition to move Nigeria from economic reforms to prosperity.
The five-point action plan is intended to provide a framework for coordinating diaspora participation in the run-up to the 2027 presidential election, with emphasis on digital communications, international stakeholder engagement and campaign mobilisation.
What You Should Know
The APC diaspora campaign arm has launched a five-point strategy to rally Nigerians living abroad behind President Tinubu’s re-election bid, focusing heavily on digital communication, countering misinformation, and structured fundraising.
- Positive Impact: The initiative aims to harness the over $20 billion in annual remittances and valuable professional expertise from the diaspora to foster national development and technology exchange.
- Potential Concerns: While the plan seeks to bridge information gaps, the administration still faces the hurdle of convincing citizens—both at home and abroad—that current economic hardships will yield sustainable long-term prosperity.
