The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa has revealed that mortgage schemes for Nigerians in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada will kick off soon.
Dangiwa disclosed this at the sixth Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme, ‘New Vistas, New Aspirations, New Opportunities: The Diaspora and National Development’, Dangiwa pledged to support Diaspora initiatives in the housing and urban development space as well as encourage partnerships with the Diaspora towards making a change in the housing and urban development narrative of Nigeria.
The Minister noted that he sees Diasporas as Nigerians, who though abroad, are desirous of owning homes in Nigeria, adding that “I am excited to be the Minister of Housing and Urban Development to launch the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, which I initiated as the MD/CE of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria on this auspicious occasion.
“Indeed, I consider it a positive twist of fate and I want to use this opportunity to urge Nigerians in the Diaspora to seize the opportunity the Scheme affords them to actualize their dreams of owning affordable homes in Nigeria.
“I am aware that the Mortgage scheme is set to be formally launched in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States soon, and I hope that the Diaspora community would take full advantage of this opportunity and massively subscribe to reap its short and long-term benefits.”
Also, the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, who was at the summit said “In every thriving country of the world, at least a Nigerian must be involved.
“The Nigerians in the Diaspora are the most patriotic, despite the challenges they face. We have a sole responsibility for the development of sports in Nigeria and sports have the power to unite and transform more than every other sector.”
The Chief Host, NDIS, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said in the quest of the Federal Government to go far in repositioning the economy, there was a need to partner with the Diaspora in achieving these goals.
“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has just returned from attending the Saudi-Africa Summit made efforts to underscore Nigeria’s commitment to attracting more Diaspora direct investment and expand business partnerships, which are strongly reinforced by the administration’s ongoing domestic economic reforms.
“The summit is very appropriate because it creates innovative platforms of partnerships, between the Government and the Diaspora, in attracting investment into local businesses and thus enhancing Diaspora Direct Investment in the country”, she added.
