By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday stated that efforts were being made to accommodate Nigerians living abroad in voting exercise during general elections.

He stated that it was not feasible to implement the idea presently as there were still many factors militating against its realisation.

Some of the factors which are logistical, the president mentioned included legislation, huge finance, and confidence in the electoral system.

He however assured them that the process had begun to realize the objective.

President Buhari spoke at the 2015 Diaspora Day held at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with the theme “Diaspora and Nigeria Change Agenda.”

He said: “We are also aware of the importance of voting rights of Nigerians abroad. But to achieve this, the National Assembly will have to legislate. Diaspora voting is in Nigeria’s future.

“Because, obviously, there is a lot to be done including building confidence in the Nigerian electoral process. The skills and planning required in planning a number of national election in an atmosphere of continued suspicion of each party is a major challenge by itself.
“Our electoral process is evolving and as greater confidence is built in the institutions and processes associated with it we may then create voting opportunities for our citizens abroad in the not too distant future,’’ he said.

Represented at the event by the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, the president however called for the support of the diasporan Nigerians in the rebuilding of the country.

He said: “Permit me to take this opportunity to interrogate the place and role of Nigerians abroad in the Change Agenda of the Buhari administration.

“This is because we have embarked on the building of a bold new Nigeria and we need all hands on deck.

“The time has come for talents from home and abroad to mix it up in patriotic zeal to fashion the Nigeria of our dreams.

“First let me quickly lay out our medium to long term strategy as a government.

“It is namely to build an economy led by a strong and responsible private sector.”

President Buhari also reiterated his administration’s commitment towards building lasting social infrastructures.

He assured of improvement of 5000 megawatts of electricity generation by early next year as a way of mitigating the sufferings of over 110 million Nigerians whom he said were living above poverty line.

He also promised to complete some outstanding power-related projects to enable him lay the foundation for future 10,000MW and 15,000 MW.

In agriculture, president Buhari hinted that his administration was working to achieve self-sustenance in the production of rice, wheat cotton

Revealing that annual rice importation stood about $4 billion, the president stated he would work to reduce the importation of the stable food.

According to him, 7 rice producing states have demonstrated willingness to work with the Federal Government in making sure that Nigeria achieved self sustenance in rice production within 30 days.

President Buhari also promised to revive the garment and textile factories, saying it will address youth unemployment even as he stated that government would invest in infrastructure, technology, agriculture and mining.

While soliciting the assistance of Nigerians abroad, the president stated that many countries of the world such as India, Japan, China and Korea were rated developed due to the contributions of their nationals world over.

He challenged them to key into the change agenda of the government with their 15 millions population.

According to him, with about 4 million in U.S. and Canada and about 1million in London, the Disapora Nigerians could contribute more to the development of the country.

He said: “Besides, the financial remittances from Nigerians abroad have well reached an estimate of over $20 billion in 2014.

“With the potential of such huge populations abroad and attendant financial muscle, no government can actually totally ignore such persons.” he said

On the proposed Disapora Commission, President promised stated that if signed into law, it would engender development even as he stated that the country would start the process of gathering a reliable data of Nigerian citizens abroad using the Embassies and missions.