The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has warned all
government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) against dealing with
“phoney diaspora groups”.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Abdur-Rahman Balogun,
NiDCOM director of media, public relations and protocols, said the commission
also cautioned embassies and high commissions against such groups.
On Monday, the Nigeria Diaspora Forum (NDF), a
non-governmental organisation, announced the opening of its home office in
Abuja to establish a support network across the world.
NDF also said it had appointed Chike Amadichi, the chairman
of the diaspora committee of the Labour Party (LP), as the country director of
the international organisation.
According to the group, the decision to situate a home
office in Abuja was necessitated by the need to “better advocate for the rights
of Nigerians living in the diaspora”.
The forum said it would liaise with the “different foreign
embassies, high commissions, and ambassadors to better the welfare and
well-being of Nigerians living in their respective countries of residence
outside Nigeria”.
But Balogun said NiDCOM frowned at the development,
describing it as a sinister attempt to swindle unsuspecting public officials
and citizens.
“The so-called Forum, an arm of Labour Party, masquerading
as a diaspora group, is not even registered with the Corporate Affairs
Commission,” the statement reads.
“We are aware that all registered Political parties,
including the ruling party, APC, PDP, SDP, NNPP and even LP, etc have diaspora
chapters and support groups outside the country and do work to promote and
champion their party ideals.
“It is equally sinister that an unregistered body with the
Corporate Affairs Commission will fraudulently and boldly announce the setting
up of an office to oversee the welfare of Nigerians in Diaspora in Abuja.
“This is no doubt an attempt to fraudulently hoodwink
unsuspecting members of the public, ministries, departments and agencies,
embassies, high commissions as well as state and local governments.”
He advised all government agencies and the diplomatic
community to always check the status of diaspora groups with it, saying it has
an active database of all registered diaspora groups.
He also assured citizens that it remained committed to
fulfilling its mandate while working with genuine Nigerian diaspora groups and
individuals.
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