President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians residing in Saint Lucia to remain law-abiding and uphold the nation’s dignity as worthy ambassadors of their homeland.

Speaking during a second engagement with the Nigerian community in the Caribbean nation, President Tinubu praised their contributions to Saint Lucia’s development and assured them that his administration would work diplomatically to address their challenges, including the high cost of work permits and the absence of a Nigerian diplomatic mission on the island.

This was contained in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

“My plea to you all: continue to be of good behaviour, don’t break the law,” the President said during a town-hall-style meeting on Wednesday at the Windjammer Resort in Castries, where he has been lodged during his state visit.

The event, convened by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, brought together Nigerian professionals, students, and clergy in Saint Lucia for a candid interaction with the President.

Dabiri-Erewa applauded the Nigerian community for their positive representation abroad and expressed pride in their accomplishments. 

“Nigeria is proud of what you are contributing to Saint Lucia, and we hope you will remember home,” she said, while also thanking President Tinubu for making time to meet the diaspora.

Mr. Smart Okeudili Duah, President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), highlighted key concerns affecting Nigerians in Saint Lucia, chief among them being the annual $2,500 work permit fee. 

He also made a strong case for Nigeria to establish a diplomatic presence on the island.

President Tinubu, in response, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to opening a diplomatic mission in Saint Lucia. 

He assured the community that these matters would be addressed through diplomatic engagement.

“You are not forgotten. For the professionals living here, our government will not abandon you. But you must work hard. It is our job to help you succeed,” Tinubu said.

In a gesture of admiration, Father Festus Iwuagwu, a Nigerian priest in Saint Lucia, praised the President’s outreach. 

“The high turnout shows Nigerians’ love and respect for you,” he told Tinubu.

Dr. Olugbemisola Ogunlusi, a paediatrician who relocated to Saint Lucia 19 years ago after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University, expressed her gratitude to the President for visiting. 

She shared her family’s migration story and noted how her husband returned to Nigeria and now serves as the Chief Medical Director of a newly established Federal Medical Centre.

“Since you arrived, you have propagated Nigeria more than ever thought,” she remarked.

Drawing from his personal journey as a student in the United States decades ago, Tinubu encouraged his audience to remain diligent and resilient.

“Life is about working hard and being consistent. Stay focused, stay dedicated”, the President said.

On the state of the Nigerian economy, Tinubu was candid about the administration’s initial challenges and the progress made. 

“We inherited a country that was near bankruptcy. But we have been able to rescue the economy. Nigeria has recovered,” he said.

Highlighting key reforms, Tinubu noted, “We have made the smuggling of our oil unattractive. We have stopped chasing forex papers at the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

He acknowledged that Nigeria’s per capita income remains low but pledged continued efforts to raise the economic standard of living for Nigerians at home and abroad.

The meeting ended on a warm note with the presentation of a portrait of President Tinubu by Doris, a Nigerian medical student and talented artist studying in Saint Lucia.

President Tinubu’s state visit to Saint Lucia has been marked by vibrant diplomacy, cultural recognition, and deepening ties with the African diaspora—culminating in his investiture with Saint Lucia’s highest national honour earlier in the week.