By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
NIGERIANS RESIDING in Saint Lucia received renewed assurances from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who for a second day engaged with the community to address issues affecting their stay in the Caribbean nation.
President Tinubu met with members of the diaspora on Wednesday at the Windjammer Resort, his base during the state visit, following an earlier meeting on Tuesday night at the official residence of Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre.
The session, facilitated by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, brought together a cross-section of professionals and students who expressed both pride and concern regarding their lives in the country.
Dabiri-Erewa commended their positive contributions to Saint Lucia and expressed hope that they would maintain strong ties with Nigeria.
Smart Okeudili Duah, President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), drew attention to the annual $2,500 cost of obtaining a work permit, a burden he asked President Tinubu to help alleviate.
He also called for Nigeria to establish a diplomatic mission in the country, an appeal the President acknowledged as already under consideration.
Among the attendees was Father Festus Iwuagwu, a Nigerian priest, who praised the significant turnout as a sign of deep respect for the visiting leader.
Also present was Dr Olugbemisola Ogunlusi, a pediatrician who relocated to Saint Lucia 19 years ago with her husband, now the chief medical director of a federal medical centre in Nigeria.
She thanked the President for visiting and said his presence had raised Nigeria’s profile.
Responding, President Tinubu commended the community for their exemplary conduct, urging them to remain law-abiding and uphold Nigeria’s reputation abroad.
“My plea to you all: continue to be of good behaviour, don’t break the law,” he said.
Recalling his own experience as a student in the United States over five decades ago, President Tinubu encouraged the diaspora to remain focused, noting that resilience and hard work were crucial to personal and national progress.
“For the professionals living here, our government will not abandon you. But you must work hard. It is our job to help you succeed,” he said.
He assured them that their concerns would be handled through diplomatic channels and updated them on Nigeria’s current economic trajectory.
He highlighted his administration’s actions to stabilise the economy and block financial leakages.
“We inherited a country that was near bankruptcy. But we have been able to rescue the economy. Nigeria has recovered. We have made the smuggling of our oil unattractive. We have stopped chasing forex papers at the Central Bank of Nigeria,” he told the gathering.
Despite acknowledging the nation’s low per capita income, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving it through sustainable economic reforms.
The evening ended on a warm note as the Nigerians in Saint Lucia presented President Tinubu with a custom portrait crafted by Doris, a medical student and artist, as a token of their appreciation.
