Nigeria’s Acting
President Pledges Diaspora Commission
Acting
President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians living abroad
of government's commitment to establish a Diaspora Commission
soon.
Dr. Jonathan gave the assurance at a session with Nigerians
living in the U.S., shortly before he left Washington on
Wednesday, after completing a four-day visit.
The Acting president said the government would move beyond
having a unit in the foreign affairs ministry, by setting up a
body that will tap inherent human resources and also ensure that
Nigerians in Diaspora would be willing to return home, integrate
and make contributions to national development.
Credible and fair2011 polls
He pledged that the present government was committed to
conducting successful and credible elections in 2011, regretting
that Nigerians in Diaspora may be unable to vote from the
countries of their abode.
The Acting president said the recent elections conducted in Edo,
Anambra and FCT were reasonably accepted and thus reaffirmed
government’s commitment to credible polls in future.
The Niger Delta
He told Nigerians community in the U.S. that the problems of
the Niger-Delta were being addressed through the amnesty
programme.
He explained that the programme was divided into three phases:
the disarmament stage; which has been completed, the
rehabilitation programme and lastly the reintegration process.
The energy sector
The Acting President said that government was doing everything
possible to provide adequate electricity supply and that the
critical importance of that sector informed his decision to
personally assume responsibility as Minister of Power in the
recent cabinet reshuffle.
He thanked Nigerians living in the U.S for contributing to the
development of their host community, saying that President
Barrack Obama recognised and appreciated the laudable
initiatives, which were made known to him during talks at the
White House on Sunday.
Dr. Jonathan wrapped-up his historic visit to the U.S. with a
meeting at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, after he had
attended six different programmes.
He returned to Nigeria on Thursday.
NAN/Williams/Yinka
