The Director of Diaspora Mobilisation for the PBAT/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said her office has received numerous requests from foreign nationals seeking Nigerian passports and expressing interest in living in the country.

Dabiri-Erewa made the disclosure on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja, where she unveiled plans to mobilise Nigerians living abroad in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in 2027.

“On my table, you see a lot of people telling us to beg the President to be able to give them Nigerian passports. Ask the Minister of Interior. It’s too much,” she said.

She attributed the reported interest to foreigners’ growing connections with Nigeria, including those considering investment opportunities and closer ties with the country.

She also cited the example of a woman who reportedly told her team during a recorded interaction that she had visited Nigeria and did not want to return to her previous country of residence.

Diaspora Remittances Exceed $20bn Annually

Dabiri-Erewa also highlighted the contributions of Nigerians living abroad, describing them as important partners in the country’s economic development.

She said Nigerians in the diaspora, including doctors, nurses, engineers, students, traders and entrepreneurs, contribute through remittances, investments, professional expertise and other forms of engagement.

According to her, diaspora remittances exceed $20bn annually, while Nigerians abroad also invest in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and information and communications technology.

APC Unveils Five-Point Mobilisation Plan

On preparations for the 2027 presidential election, Dabiri-Erewa said the campaign council would implement a five-point strategy to mobilise Nigerians abroad in support of Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The plan includes activating APC diaspora chapters across five continents, launching a digital campaign initiative tagged “Operation Tell Your Story” and encouraging fundraising through structured and transparent platforms.

Other components include promoting voter registration awareness and countering misinformation about Nigeria and the Tinubu administration.

Dabiri-Erewa acknowledged that Nigerians living abroad cannot currently vote in Nigerian elections from their countries of residence under the existing legal framework.

She urged the National Assembly to amend relevant laws to allow diaspora voting, adding that Nigerians overseas could still influence political discussions by engaging their families, communities and local government areas.

Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

The diaspora mobilisation director also defended the Tinubu administration’s removal of the fuel subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange rate.

She described the measures as difficult but necessary reforms intended to address longstanding economic challenges and move the country towards prosperity.

Dabiri-Erewa called for stronger cooperation between Nigerians at home and abroad, stressing that both groups had a role to play in national development.

“Nigeria needs you, and you also need Nigeria. It’s a symbiotic relationship,” she said.

She added that the directorate would intensify its outreach and mobilisation activities in the months leading up to the 2027 election.