West Africa: Nigeria Targets $100bn Annual Diaspora Investment

What the report says

Nigeria’s Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says it wants to attract as much as $100 billion a year in investments from citizens living abroad. The target was outlined in Abuja ahead of the 9th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, scheduled for November 10-11, 2026, according to Daily Trust as distributed by AllAfrica. NiDCOM chair Abike Dabiri-Erewa, speaking through the commission’s acting secretary, said the event would focus on overcoming barriers that have kept more diaspora money out of productive investment channels.

The commission said the main concerns include weak trust, limited transparency, poor access to reliable information and insufficient investor protection. Rather than relying only on remittances, NiDCOM wants diaspora resources directed into business, infrastructure and other economic sectors. Dabiri-Erewa also linked the effort to the federal government’s broader goal of building a $1 trillion economy, while stressing that credible institutions and clear rules are essential to winning investor confidence.

The summit theme is "Bridging the Trust Gap: Connecting Diaspora Capital with Credible Home-Based Opportunities." Organizers said it will bring together diaspora Nigerians, regulators, financial institutions, investors, business owners and project sponsors. Sessions are expected to cover capital markets, infrastructure projects, public-private partnerships, compliance, anti-fraud measures and business registration. The 2026 edition will be held in a hybrid format, with virtual participation and limited in-person attendance in Abuja because of the election campaign season.