President Buhari and members of his delegation with some members of the Nigerian community in Lisbon/Photo: Nigerian Presidency

Lisbon: Buhari calls on Nigerians abroad to promote unity at home

President Muhammadu Buhari met with a selected number of Nigerians living in Portugal, on Wednesday night in Lisbon, and he reiterated the commitment of his administration to support citizens living outside Nigeria.

Buhari called on Nigerians in the diaspora to always contribute their quota to the development of the nation.

‘‘In every field of human endeavour, be it the creative industries, sports, health, academia, Nigerians in the diaspora have thrived and leveraged their skills to raise our country’s profile higher, economically, socially, technologically, and culturally,” Buhari said.

‘‘It is for these reasons that this government established the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to facilitate and support your engagement with our country for a win-win outcome in our effort to keep Nigerians united at home and abroad.

President Buhari receives a presentation from Nigerian Professional footballers based in Lisbon, Saviour Godwin and Chima Akas, and their agent Adelaja Abraham. With them is CEO Diaspora Commission Abike Dabiri, Ambassador of Nigeria to Portugal, Alex Kefas, and Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare/Photo: Nigeria Presidency

‘‘You must continue to be our ambassadors-at-large in your comportment, actions, and character. You must excel and be the best in all your endeavours. While here, you must also not forget home as you are the example we want to project to the rest of the world.’’

Buhari also urged them to ensure they use social media platforms to promote unity in the country and not incite hate.

While these platforms have continued to reshape the world, he believes they have been used negatively.

‘‘Many countries, including our own, have had to take strong measures against some social media platforms to curb their excesses and prevent them from destabilizing our societies,” Buhari added.

President Buhari and members of his delegation in a group photograph with Nigerians living in Portugal/Photo: Nigeria Presidency

‘‘I, therefore, call upon you to use social media responsibly. We all want the best for our country and people, so let us strive to build, unite and prosper our nation and people and not to insult and incite from a safe and anonymous distance.’’

President Buhari, who returned on Saturday evening to Abuja after a five-day State visit to Lisbon, where the Nigerian leader signed several bilateral Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding between Nigeria and Portugal.

The MoUs signed include Political Consultations, Diplomatic Training, Research and the Exchange of Information and Documentation. Cooperation in the field of Culture; Cooperation in the Field of Women and Girls Development, Empowerment and Gender Affairs; Youths and Sports were also parts of the cooperation.

Sola Jolaoso with press reports

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