The Nigerian Government has announced new steps toward enabling citizens abroad to vote, with the Diaspora Voting Bill now moving closer to legislative consideration, according to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Abbas made the disclosure on Monday during the opening of the Nigerian Stakeholders Engagement on Diaspora Governance held in Abuja.
The event also featured the official launch of the Nigerians in Diaspora Response (NiDRes) application and website, a joint initiative of the House Committee on Diaspora and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) designed to strengthen engagement between Nigerians abroad and government institutions.
In a statement signed by NiDCOM spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Abbas reaffirmed the government’s commitment to extending democratic participation to Nigerians in the diaspora.
“The Federal Government is advancing plans for the Diaspora Voting Bill, which seeks to grant Nigerians living abroad the constitutional right to vote in national elections,” the statement quoted the Speaker as saying.
Represented by Patrick Umoh, Abbas described the initiative as a “major step toward inclusive democracy” and said it aligns with the 10th House of Representatives’ agenda of inclusion, accountability, and economic reform.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Tochukwu Okere, explained that the NiSEDiG 2025 framework is designed to create a unified policy integrating institutions, legislation, and technology to enhance diaspora governance and service delivery.
He added that the newly launched NiDRes App and website will streamline access to government services for Nigerians abroad and improve communication with Nigerian missions worldwide.
In her address, NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa, highlighted the progress made in harnessing the potential of Nigerians abroad, noting that their contributions in key sectors are being consolidated to advance national development.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the approval of the National Diaspora Policy by the Federal Executive Council in April 2021 established a structured framework for diaspora engagement in national growth. She further noted that the Diaspora Data Mapping Portal, launched two months later, has become a vital tool for data-driven governance and development planning.
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