A Nigerian-American healthcare professional, Mrs Nkechi Eze, has called for clear regulations and safeguards to ensure the credibility of diaspora voting, identifying secure voter registration, reliable identity verification, prevention of multiple voting, and transparent vote counting as essential requirements.
Mrs Eze, née Nzelu, the second daughter of renowned Apo Six lawyer, Mr Amobi Nzelu, made the call while speaking with journalists via Zoom in Abuja. She commended the Federal Government for extending voting rights to Nigerians living abroad, saying citizens should have the opportunity to participate in choosing their leaders regardless of their country of residence.
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She, however, stressed the need to strengthen the protection of votes cast within Nigeria, noting that confidence in the domestic electoral process remains fundamental to expanding voting arrangements.
According to her, credible elections can promote good governance by allowing citizens to reward performing leaders and vote out those who fail to meet public expectations. She noted that elected officials must recognise that failures in security, healthcare and other essential services could affect their political fortunes.
Mrs Eze cautioned, however, that elections alone would not resolve Nigeria’s security challenges or address the difficulties confronting the healthcare sector, stressing the need for effective governance, responsible public spending, law enforcement and improved remuneration and working conditions for professionals.
On security, she identified insecurity as a major reason many Nigerians living abroad are reluctant to return home, citing the growing threats of kidnapping, violent attacks and unsafe roads.
She said her concern was not limited to the possibility of being attacked but also the need to be confident that she and her family could travel safely, move freely and access emergency assistance when necessary.
According to her, staying away from Nigeria does not diminish her love for the country but reflects her responsibility to protect her family from avoidable risks.
As a healthcare professional, Mrs Eze expressed particular concern over threats to the lives of medical personnel, insisting that health workers should not have to risk kidnapping or death while performing their duties.
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She explained that insecurity disrupts healthcare delivery, as patients may be unable to reach hospitals at night, medical personnel may struggle to get to work, and ambulances may avoid dangerous routes.
She warned that such disruptions could have serious consequences for pregnant women experiencing emergencies, accident victims, and patients requiring urgent referrals to better-equipped medical facilities.
Mrs Eze also identified financial constraints, transportation difficulties and delays in locating hospitals capable of providing appropriate treatment as factors that could worsen medical emergencies.
On what would make her reconsider visiting Nigeria, she listed sustainable improvements in security, safer roads, effective emergency response systems and credible investigations into criminal activities.
She maintained that assurances of safety must be supported by verifiable improvements in the communities and locations people intend to visit.
Speaking on banditry, kidnapping and farmer-herder conflicts, Mrs Eze said the challenges highlight the need for stronger protection of citizens. She urged authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for criminal activities rather than unfairly blaming entire ethnic or occupational groups.
She also called for improved intelligence gathering, stronger collaboration among security agencies, better-equipped and properly supervised local policing structures, as well as efficient investigations and judicial processes.
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Mrs Eze further advocated preventive measures, including education, employment opportunities and fair mechanisms for resolving disputes, as part of broader efforts to address insecurity and promote peaceful coexistence.
FRCN