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Dr Jonathan Obaje, Vice President of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NiDO), Singapore Chapter, says current security challenges will not deter members of the organisation from investing in Nigeria.
Obaje gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Abuja.
Obaje, who is also the Vice-Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Movement (NDM), a non-profit organisation, said although the country’s economy was bedevilled by security challenges, NiDO-Singapore would not be deterred from promoting national growth.
“Historically, we were colonised by Britain and they speak English as official language, they are multicultural, they have various religions and the diversity is as much as we have here”.
“And, they have managed all those things to bring development to everybody”.
“Besides that, they are not dependent on any natural resources; Singapore stands out as an example of how a nation can be developed with just brain power alone”.
“And Nigeria is lucky to have so much brain power that we are not harnessing”.
“And so, the day Nigeria will start to harness their brain power, Singapore will just be a joke”.
“We are concerned about the security issues, but this is our country, we cannot run away, it does not matter if you carry guns or whatever we will come”.
“Because, if do not do something, nobody is going to do it for us, we are not happy about the insecurity, we hope that things will get better.”
The NiDO-Singapore vice president noted that Asia is not generally populated with Nigerians when compared to the U.S. and U.K., adding that a total of 200 Nigerians reside in Singapore.
He commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission for organising the National Diaspora Day celebration on July 25, aimed at encouraging interaction among Nigerian citizens abroad.
Obaje further enjoined every state across the country to do better by utilising their natural resources, to bring progress in the country.
He, however, urged the Federal Government to partner Singapore to strengthen cultural and economic relations between the two countries. (NAN)
