I am an Imo-Lagosian, Am I not diaspora?
I am from Imo state . In a recent economic conversation in the state, there was a discussion around how to get the State Diaspora to contribute to the development of the state. I think it’s necessary. The state is insolvent. And has not succeeded over the years in attracting the level of investment that is possible in the state.
So it needs money from its citizens who are in diaspora.
That was not my problem. My problem started when I wanted to be identified as a Diaspora. I live in Lagos. They said I was not. I need to live offshore to be called diaspora. I was refereed to the online definition of diaspora . And it seemed clear that you need to live outside your country to be considered diaspora.
Is Imo state a Country?
But I asked? Is Imo state a country? Imo state is a state. So it cannot define diaspora in the same way as Nigeria defines it. Nigeria defines diaspora as someone off its shores. A state should define diaspora in the same way. Any one off the state’s shores. I think it makes absolute sense. I argued. But those who feel they are more diaspora than me, with bonafide residency outside the shores of Nigeria could not budge. They were not prepared to listen because their definition was cast in stone. In Google and Wikipedia. Coupled with the superiority that came with migrating from your state to “overseas” than me that came to Lagos by bus.Which is a pity.
Economics of Re-Defining Diaspora
So why is this definition important to my state Imo? Nigeria needs diaspora money and investment. Those outside its shores. Imo state has need of its citizens outside its shores. To consider only those outside Nigeria means that all its citizens who have migrated out of the state but not overseas are considered less important in investment terms. And there is no program to target them for remittance and investment.
Imo state has one of the worst cases of brain drain in Nigeria. Most of its citizens are outside the state. The highest number being in other states in Nigeria. To focus on those who have migrated outside Nigeria alone is wrong headed and misses the real reason you are targeting this class of citizens and what they are capable of doing.
Its a Dollar Mentality
I believe there is some dollar mentality working here. We value dollar more than naira. I have often seen situations where people value $10 above N5000. Because dollar is seen as being more valuable than naira, people have an automatic reaction that N5000 is more valuable than $10. Until they do the Maths.
It is same reason that the money I remit to my Imo state is seen as less valuable than the money that an Imo state citizen in the US or UK possibly living on welfare remits to my state.
And the state is ready to go on a pilgrimage to America to look for the elusive diaspora dollar when me, in Lagos, a full blooded Imo citizen is overlooked.
And Rent Seeking
And this problem is not peculiar to Imo state. All over Nigeria, states are looking at how to attract investment from their citizens who have migrated from their states. The mindset that makes them value diaspora remittances more than those within the country is the same reason they value Federal allocation over income they could generate by developing their states though investments and taxation. It is rent seeking. Diaspora remittance is the new oil . They think citizens outside the shores have monies stored somewhere they will remit and somewhere along the line there will be opportunity for sharing. Not that easy. I don’t see any diaspora remitting money that is not tied to some investment return. Even if its a house in his village. For states to get this money, they have to be creative and attract smart money for smart investments. Otherwise lots of the states will be scammed by the diaspora they are desperate to bring in their dollars. Same way “ foreign investors” have sometimes swindled states and Nigeria, desperate for investment from fringe international investors.
More Imo Dollar in Lagos than America
Data is scarce but I believe that there is more wealth and investment money for Imo state in Lagos than in the US.
And in other cities in Nigeria, Imo citizens are working at the highest levels of the economy and contributing to the economies of their states of residence. Only very few outside the country have this privilege.
These Nigerian based migrants are contributing heavily to the economy of state. They are the people who have turned the Owerri airport into the 3rd busiest airport in Nigeria.They are the ones who fill the hotels in Imo every weekend and holidays. Turning Owerri into one of the biggest hospitality markets in Nigeria.If you target this community and bring them to invest in the state, its the biggest source of investment the state can get.
You don’t need to be in Benin Republic or the US to be an investment target by the state. Once you are outside the shores of Imo state, you owe it to the state to support the growth of the state . Either through investment or remittances for support
I still think I am Imo Diaspora.
Living in Lagos. I don’t want to be a Nigerian diaspora. In have no reason to be .But if my state denies me my rights in this regard, it should be aware that it’s losing my investment Naira. Which when converted to dollars is not that insignificant.
