President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the desire of Nigerians residing abroad to take part in the nation’s general elections from their places of abode will not be realised anytime soon.
He said although the idea is futuristic, a lot of steps would be taken to make it become a reality.
Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, spoke at the opening of the 2015 Diaspora Day held inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He listed some of the issues that must be resolved before the nation can adopt diaspora voting to include amendment of legislations and building of confidence in the electoral process.
According to him, once greater confidence is built in the institutions and processes associated with it, diaspora voting could be considered.
He said, “We are also aware of the importance of voting rights of Nigerians abroad. But to achieve this, the National Assembly will have to legislate. Diaspora voting is in Nigeria’s future.
“Because obviously there is a lot to be done including building confidence in the Nigerian electoral process.
“The skills and planning required in planning a number of national election in an atmosphere of continued suspicion of each party is a major challenge by itself.
“Our electoral process is evolving and as greater confidence is built in the institutions and processes associated with it, we may then create voting opportunities for our citizens abroad in the not too distant future.”
He told the gathering that his administration was committed to building a new Nigeria, saying the support and participation of all Nigerians was needed irrespective of where they reside.
He said the Nigerians in the diaspora have great roles to play in his administration’s change agenda.
He said it was time for talented Nigerians at home and abroad to join forces to realise the nation of their dreams.
Buhari disclosed that his administration was targeting consistent generation of 5,000 MW of power daily by early 2016.
He described the target as a modest one.
He promised that his government would also complete many power projects in order to subsequently increase the target to 10,000MW and 15,000MW.
He cited some of the reforms being carried out by his administration to include the ongoing ones in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, agriculture and economy, among others.
The President said government would implement social intervention schemes to make no fewer than 110 million extremely poor Nigerians to participate in the new Nigeria.
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