Key Takeaways
- Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Director of Diaspora Mobilisation for PBAT/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, says many foreign nationals are begging for Nigerian passports and want to stay in Nigeria.
- She made the statement Wednesday in Abuja while outlining plans to mobilise diaspora for Tinubu’s re-election, quoting: “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 diaspora remittances exceed $20B annually, and unveiled plans to activate APC chapters across 5 continents, launch “Operation Tell Your Story” digital campaign, fundraise, and push National Assembly to allow diaspora voting.
“A Lot Of Foreigners Are Now Begging For Nigerian Passports” — that’s the new line from Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and Nigerians on X are already dragging it.
Dabiri-Erewa, who is now Director of Diaspora Mobilisation for the PBAT/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, said this on Wednesday in Abuja while outlining plans to mobilise Nigerians abroad for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking about requests from foreigners seeking Nigerian citizenship, she said:
“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 the development reflected growing interest in Nigeria, including among foreigners seeking to invest in the country. She also cited a woman who recently told her team on camera that she had come to Nigeria and did not intend to return to her previous country of residence.
Her comment is coming at a time when Nigeria’s passport is trending for the wrong reasons — Henley ranked it 90th with 44 visa-free destinations in July, while IziVisa now ranks it 181st out of 196 with only 24 visa-free countries. Many Nigerians are asking: If our passport is so weak, why would foreigners beg for it?
But Dabiri-Erewa doubled down, saying diaspora Nigerians contribute massively to national development through remittances, investments and professional expertise, adding that diaspora remittances exceed $20 billion annually.
On 2027, she unveiled a full battle plan:
Activate APC chapters across five continents
Launch a digital campaign tagged “Operation Tell Your Story”
Encourage diaspora fundraising for Tinubu
Promote voter registration awareness back home
Counter misinformation about Nigeria and the Tinubu administration
She also urged the National Assembly to amend the relevant laws to allow Nigerians abroad to vote, noting that even without voting, they can influence politics by engaging their families and communities.
Reactions on X: Some call it “campaign talk,” others say “which foreigners? Mention their names.” But for APC diaspora mobilisation, it’s a clear message — 2027 campaign has started abroad.
Peter K. is the Editor at XTrend.ng. He tracks what’s trending across politics, metro and pop culture — and tells the story as it is. With years in digital media, he leads the XTrend newsroom with a focus on speed, accuracy and street-smart reporting.
