President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the few Nigerians abroad indulging in criminal activities do not represent the values of majority of the people of the country.<\/p>\n
Buhari also warned that his administration will not condone any crime either home or abroad from such Nigerians.<\/p>\n
He said this in Yokohama during a meeting with leaders of the Nigerian community living in Japan on the sidelines of the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD7.<\/p>\n
A statement forwarded to DAILY POST by Buhari\u2019s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina quoted the president as saying, \u201cLet me also say that there are few Nigerians in the Diaspora that are giving us a bad name by engaging in criminal activities. These Nigerians are a minority, they do not represent the values of our country, and I plead with them to change their ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will not condone any crime whether at home or abroad, and we will also not allow these Nigerians define us as a people with reputation for criminality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Urging Nigerians in Japan to be good ambassadors of their fatherland, the Nigerian leader said, \u201cI am personally very happy that there are millions of Nigerians all over the world, like you here, who are truly making us proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Describing majority of the over 17 million Nigerians in Diaspora as \u201cthe face of Nigeria globally and our ambassadors for good,\u201d the President noted that, \u201cMany of our Diasporans, like your good selves here today, have excelled in varying fields of endeavor, both professionally and individually.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have also made significant and overwhelmingly positive contributions to your Nigerian and international host communities. You have continually been a positive bridge between Nigeria and the world. It is not an easy feat and we commend you, salute your courage and efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noting that \u201cJapan is at the cutting edge of technology and efficiency, two very important attributes that can play a role in Nigeria and improve our capacity for development,\u201d President Buhari urged members of his audience to continue to contribute their quota by helping to develop their host country and Nigeria as well, adding: \u201cI look forward to your inborn gift, ability, and capacity in taking up this challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commending many of them who are already \u201cpositively impacting the Nigerian economy through financial home remittances, promoting international trade in Nigerian commodities, our music, culture, tourism, sports, and education, while also helping to establish industries in Nigeria,\u201d the President urged them \u201cto encourage legitimate Japanese entrepreneurs to come and invest in Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to him, \u201cWe are continually working to create the necessary enabling environment for investors to thrive, through improvements in our Ease of Doing Business practices, providing security, diversification of the economy, infrastructure and fighting corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n
He further assured them that, \u201cWe have put in place the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERPG) to put the country on a path of sustained recovery and growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Explaining the rationale for his regular meetings with Nigerians abroad and the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, President Buhari said:<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you are aware, I have regularly held town hall meetings with Nigerians in the Diaspora on all my foreign engagements be they in Europe, Asia, America and Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt these fora, I have always, appealed to our citizens to be our good ambassadors, observe the laws of your host countries, excel in whatever you do legitimately, and also remember us at home (Nigeria). I have established the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission specifically to engage with you, signifying a coordinated attempt by our administration to increase the involvement of our Diaspora in our national development.<\/p>\n
\u201cCollectively, your resources, skills, and talents will be a positive force for our country which can help accelerate our national growth and development.\u201d<\/p>\n
President Buhari\u2019s meeting with Nigerians in Diaspora, coordinated by Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Diaspora Commission, who described the President as \u201cthe most Diaspora-friendly leader we have had in Nigeria,\u201d witnessed a parade of the brightest and best of our citizens, plying their trade in Japan. They included academics, industrialists, top businessmen, scientists, economists, and many others.<\/p>\n
Professor Ejiogu Emenike, President, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Asia (NIDOASIA) and an energy expert, commended President Buhari for efficient leadership, and disclosed that his members have \u201ccomparative advantages in human capital development, which we are trying to bring back to Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cAny problem that science and technology can solve, we are able to, and we can help Nigeria in areas of need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Engineer Ochade Osakwe, Chairman, Nigeria\/Japan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, recounted businesses that have been attracted to Nigeria in recent times, promising to do more, as the security and investment climates back home improved further.<\/p>\n
Mr Nnaji Fintan, President, Nigerian Union in Japan, asked for more exploits in the areas of education, quality infrastructure and security, which incidentally, are focal points of the current administration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the few Nigerians abroad indulging in criminal activities do not represent the values of majority of the people of the country. Buhari also warned that his administration will not condone any crime either home or abroad from such Nigerians. He said this in Yokohama during a meeting with leaders […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":6394,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,14],"tags":[97,41,204,158],"class_list":["post-14778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-buhari","tag-corruption","tag-government","tag-presidency"],"yoast_head":"\n