Diaspora Critics Push Back Against Gbajabiamila's Warning on Opposition
Nigerian diaspora critics have pushed back against recent comments from Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who warned Nigerians abroad not to allow opposition to the government translate into actions capable of undermining Nigeria's stability or economic interests.
Gbajabiamila delivered this message at the Nigeria Diaspora Economic Conference, NIDEC 2026, in Canada, where he urged Nigerians to deepen their economic engagement with the country through direct and structured investments rather than limiting their financial contributions to remittances for family consumption.
The conference aimed to channel more of the diaspora's financial capacity, expertise, and international networks towards businesses and development projects in Nigeria. Gbajabiamila argued that difficult reforms undertaken over the past three years were beginning to produce measurable results, citing Nigeria's real GDP growth of 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 and manufacturing sector growth of 3.29 per cent during the same period.
Gbajabiamila also defended the economic policies pursued by the Tinubu administration, saying that some macroeconomic indicators were moving in the government's desired direction. He referenced Nigeria's improved external reserves position, with gross external reserves above $45 billion, and the International Monetary Fund's projection that the Nigerian economy would grow by 4.1 per cent in 2026.