The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa has described the signing into law of the Diaspora Commission Bill by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo as a welcome development.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by her spokesman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa expressed delight at the signing into law of the bill.

“I’m so excited about the signing of the bill into law after introducing this bill to the Parliament about six years ago. Finally, it’s now a law, we thank God. Our advocacy for a one-stop agency for diaspora matters is finally a reality,” she said.

The President’s aid noted further that 26 countries have full ministries for the Diaspora, and “having a commission for our almost 15 million Nigerians abroad is a most welcome development”.

She recalled that Nigeria in June had successfully floated a $300 million Diaspora bond, saying that Nigerians abroad have also expressed their willingness to contribute to the development of their nation.

With the signing of the bill into law, the head of the commission would be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.