The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, has called for stronger institutional partnerships and improved investor protection mechanisms to bridge the trust gap discouraging Nigerians in the Diaspora from investing in the country.
Managing Director of FMBN, Shehu Usman Osidi, said collaboration among government institutions, regulators, financial institutions, state governments and credible private sector operators was critical to unlocking Diaspora capital and directing it towards viable investment opportunities in Nigeria.
Osidi made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 9th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, NDIS, 2026 Diaspora Engagement Webinar on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to a statement by the Group Head, Corporate Communications, Joe Abuku, the webinar was held under the theme, “Bridging the Trust Gap: Connecting Diaspora Capital with Credible Home-Based Opportunities.”
He identified information asymmetry, weak investment governance, fraudulent property transactions, regulatory complexities and inadequate accountability mechanisms as major factors undermining the confidence of Nigerians abroad in the country’s investment environment.
“Trust is not created by patriotic appeals or investment promotion campaigns. It is built through institutions, transparent processes, regulatory assurance, effective supervision and demonstrable accountability,” he said.
To address these challenges, the FMBN chief executive advocated a coordinated national Diaspora investment framework, a credible repository of independently verified investment opportunities, stronger investor protection mechanisms and more efficient regulated financial channels.
He also called for the wider adoption of digital investment services and stronger partnerships with state governments and credible private sector operators to develop bankable projects capable of attracting Diaspora capital.
While citing FMBN’s National Housing Fund, NHF, Diaspora Mortgage Product as an example of efforts to build investor confidence, Osidi disclosed that the Bank had attracted contributions from Nigerians in 31 countries across six continents within the first few months of the product’s launch in London on August 7, 2026.
He explained that the product was developed through deliberate engagement with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, including arrangements for appropriate regulatory oversight, recognised International Money Transfer Operators, IMTOs, and a dedicated account for receiving and managing contributions.
According to him, the Bank also established a Global Business Strategic Unit to provide specialised oversight and customer support for its Diaspora operations.
Osidi, however, stressed that access to mortgage finance must be supported by adequate housing supply, authentic property titles, responsible developers and effective regulatory safeguards to protect investors.
He reaffirmed FMBN’s commitment to expanding access to affordable housing finance and strengthening institutional frameworks that would enable Nigerians abroad to participate confidently in the country’s housing market.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, called for a shift from remittance-driven Diaspora engagement and informal investment arrangements to structured, transparent and commercially viable investments.
Dabiri-Erewa identified knowledge gaps, unreliable project information, opaque transactions and fraudulent investment schemes as major obstacles to mobilising Diaspora capital.
She emphasised the need for institutional transparency, robust regulatory safeguards and effective investor protection, urging regulators, financial institutions and investment service providers to demonstrate greater accountability.
The NiDCOM chief executive said the Summit provided a platform for connecting Nigerians abroad directly with regulators, project sponsors and investment agencies, enabling prospective investors to scrutinise opportunities and understand the safeguards available to them.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative, NDSI, Mobolaji Lewis, said attracting Diaspora investment required more than generating interest, stressing the need for a coordinated institutional response to concerns over the credibility of investment opportunities and the protection of investors’ funds.
The 9th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit was convened by NiDCOM in collaboration with NDSI, bringing together government institutions, regulators, financial institutions and private sector stakeholders to explore practical ways of connecting Diaspora capital with credible investment opportunities in Nigeria.
