NDIS 2026: NiDCOM HOSTS 9th SUMMIT, TARGETS TRUST GAP IN DIASPORA INVESTMENTS

PRESS RELEASE

NDIS 2026: NiDCOM HOSTS 9th SUMMIT, TARGETS TRUST GAP IN DIASPORA INVESTMENTS

ABUJA, NIGERIA – NOV. 10, 2026:

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has reaffirmed its commitment to creating secure, transparent and credible investment opportunities for Nigerians abroad.

She stated this while declaring open the two-day 9th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) 2026 in Abuja.

The Summit in collaboration with the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI), is themed “Bridging the Trust Gap: Connecting Diaspora Capital with Credible Home-based Opportunities.”

It brings together diaspora investors, government institutions, financial regulators and private-sector stakeholders to explore investment opportunities across Nigeria.

Dabiri-Erewa, described Nigerians in the diaspora as a formidable economic force whose financial resources, expertise and global networks are vital to achieving Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy ambition.

She identified trust and knowledge gaps, fraudulent investment schemes, unverified channels and inadequate investor as major barriers to diaspora investment.

She stressed the need for transparency, effective regulatory safeguards and credible investment platforms to unlock diaspora capital.

In his keynote address, Shehu Usman Osidi, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), called for stronger institutional collaboration, transparent investment processes and improved investor protection mechanisms to bridge the trust gap limiting Diaspora investments in Nigeria.

He emphasised that Nigeria must rethink its approach to Diaspora engagement by moving beyond the attraction of foreign capital to creating an investment environment where Nigerians abroad can confidently identify, verify, access and monitor credible investment opportunities at home.

Osidi also highlighted weak investment governance, fraudulent property transactions, disputed land titles, abandoned projects, unfulfilled contractual obligations and the mismanagement of invested funds as factors contributing to investor apprehension.

He acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen Diaspora engagement through the establishment of NiDCOM and the National Diaspora Policy, which provides an institutional framework for mobilising Diaspora resources through trade, investment, entrepreneurship, public-private partnerships and knowledge transfer.

He also highlighted the investment climate reforms being pursued under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly through the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Using the FMBN as an example of institutional intervention, Osidi highlighted the Bank’s National Housing Fund (NHF) Diaspora Mortgage Product, officially launched in London on 7 August 2026.

He explained that the initiative was developed in response to the challenges confronting Nigerians abroad who desire to own homes in Nigeria but face difficulties relating to mortgage accessibility, distance, property transactions and confidence in the safety of their investments.

He also disclosed that FMBN established a dedicated Global Business Strategic Unit as an independent specialised business unit to provide focused oversight, customer engagement and service delivery for its Diaspora business.

Under the product, eligible Nigerians aged between 18 and 70 years living abroad can participate through monthly contributions of US$100, US$200 or US$300 under the Basic, Classic and Premium categories, respectively.

FMBN Boss cautioned that access to mortgage finance alone would not resolve the trust challenge, stressing the need to strengthen collaboration with regulators, state governments, developers and mortgage institutions to ensure credible housing supply, authentic property titles, quality construction and timely project delivery.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Summit Organising Committee and Coordinator of NDIS, Mobolaji Lewis, said the 2026 virtual engagement was designed to sustain diaspora investment conversations despite the decision to scale down the physical summit in view of the national election campaign season.

He noted that the summit would provide practical guidance on identifying, verifying and accessing credible investment opportunities while strengthening institutional collaboration.

He also highlighted the importance of the engagement as a foundation for the 10th anniversary edition of NDIS in 2027.

The opening ceremony also witnessed discussion and panelists session on various areas of investment opportunities in Nigeria.

E-signed .
Abdur-Rahman Balogun (mnipr) Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NIDCOM, Abuja.