Building a New Nigeria, Osinbajo urges Nigerians in diaspora to get involved.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN has called on Nigerians in the diaspora, to bring their much acquired skills to impact positively on the building of a new Nigeria under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

In a speech delivered on Friday at the 7th National Diaspora Conference held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Osinbajo noted that the Diaspora had become a huge platform for several nations to leverage.

Citing countries like India, China and Korea whose citizens abroad have contributed immensely to their phenomenal economic growth and development, Osinbajo said that the Diaspora contributed to the realization of their national developmental aspirations,

Speaking on the power situation in the country, the Vice President said "in the power sector, the administration aims to consistently generate 5,000 megawatts of power going into first quarter of next year’’; which would require that all power related projects be aggressively pursued and speedily completed

On the petroleum sector, "in the short and medium term" the Vice President said "the NNPC would be re-organized and this has already begun as the leadership is being held accountable for revenue shortfall in past years.

"In agriculture sector, government would pursue self-sustenance in the production of items such as rice, wheat, cotton and therefore considerably reduce foreign exchange requirement for importation of these items, as rice importation alone consumes about $4 billion.’’ Osinbajo added.

While pledging massive job creation particularly for the youth, the Vice President disclosed that the government intends to give the textile and garment factories a new lease of life in the shortest possible time.

The Vice President urged Nigerians abroad to join in building a thriving economy.

"I have gone to this length to underscore the important role that Nigerians in Diaspora can play in the new Nigeria which is now under construction." he said "It is well known that several nations of the world have tapped into the wealth of knowledge and exposure of their Diaspora mixed with those at home to build a thriving economy.

"’I propose that the impact the Diaspora of those nations have brought to bear would not have been possible if they were not prepared to make sacrifices. 

"If many of them had waited for the home environment to be completely ideal, before they start to actively get involved and engaged in their home countries, they would probably still be waiting up till now."

Assuring the Diaspora community of the Buhari administration's resolve to resolutely tackle some of the numerous challenges confronting the country, Osinbajo assured that the Federal Government was determined to take the critical steps required to re-position Nigeria towards the path of greatness again.