Over 100,000 Nigerians Abroad Now Registered on Diaspora Data Portal

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has recorded over 100,000 Nigerians on its Diaspora Data Mapping Portal, a government initiative aimed at capturing detailed information about citizens living abroad. Launched in mid-2021, the portal collects demographic, professional, and socio-economic data to better understand the global Nigerian population.

Despite the milestone, officials acknowledged that limited resources and outreach challenges mean the registered figures represent only a fraction of the estimated 17 million Nigerians living overseas. The data highlights the distribution of Nigerians across countries and their professional engagements, providing insights to inform government policies and diaspora-focused programs.

Africa hosts significant Nigerian communities, with Cameroon, Niger, and Sudan recording the largest populations. Other notable countries include Ghana, South Africa, Benin, and Libya. Beyond the continent, the United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Germany are major destinations for Nigerians. The remaining countries, spanning Asia, Europe, and the Americas, collectively account for a large portion of the diaspora.

Professionally, the Nigerian diaspora is heavily represented in healthcare, with nurses, pharmacists, and medical doctors forming the largest groups. Education, engineering, civil service, and student populations also feature prominently. Smaller percentages are engaged in sectors such as construction, aviation, international organisations, and leadership development.

Officials say the portal will continue to evolve, aiming to expand participation and provide a more accurate picture of the Nigerian diaspora, helping the government tailor engagement strategies, investment opportunities, and policy interventions for citizens living abroad.