The National Association of Nigerian Students in Diaspora (NANS-Diaspora) has called on the Federal Government to accelerate constitutional amendments that would allow Nigerians living abroad to participate in future national elections, beginning with the 2027 polls.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the President of NANS-Diaspora, Chris Fayomi, emphasized the urgency of diaspora voting rights, stressing that Nigerians abroad play a significant role in the nation’s economic stability.
“Remittances from the diaspora hit over $23 billion in a single year, contributing approximately five percent to Nigeria’s GDP,” Fayomi stated. “Despite this, we remain excluded from national decision-making processes. It is only fair and democratic that we be allowed to vote.”
He noted that several African countries have successfully implemented diaspora voting and urged Nigeria to adopt similar reforms. “If we contribute to the economy via our resources, we must have a say in who governs us,” Fayomi added.
Fayomi highlighted that enabling diaspora voting would not only affirm the rights of Nigerian citizens abroad but also deepen democratic values by enhancing transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.
He called on key stakeholders — including the National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) — to prioritize the legal and logistical groundwork necessary to make diaspora voting a reality.
“The beginning and end of renewed hope is the inclusion of Nigerians in the diaspora as electors,” he said.
Fayomi reaffirmed NANS-Diaspora’s commitment to mobilizing Nigerian students and young professionals around the world to support electoral reforms and strengthen civic engagement from the diaspora community.
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