The Nigerian government is prioritizing the review of its National Migration Policy to improve migration governance and management in the country.
Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), made this announcement during a three-day Technical Working Group meeting on Migration and Development in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ahmed highlighted the importance of advocacy and proper guidance in reducing irregular migration, noting that the decision to review the policy was made in 2022.
The goal of the revised policy is to ensure that Nigerians migrate safely and through legal channels, steering clear of hazardous routes like the Mediterranean Sea.
He further explained that the policy aims to provide clear guidelines for safe migration, benefiting both individuals and the nation as a whole. “The committee has been established to oversee the migration policy process, addressing issues such as internal and international displacement caused by flooding and banditry,” he said.
“Our objective is to create a comprehensive policy that will guide migration over the next five years.”
Ahmed urged all stakeholders to actively participate in the discussions, emphasizing that their collective input would help shape a policy that aligns with Nigeria’s migration goals and international commitments.
Regarding Nigerian refugees, the commissioner stated that more than 53,000 Nigerians are living as refugees in Cameroon, with additional numbers in Chad and other regions. The government is working on plans to repatriate and reintegrate these refugees into Nigerian communities.
The event was organized by NCFRMI, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Migration Partnership Trust Fund, under the programme “Strengthening Fact-Based and Data-Driven Migration Governance and Management in Nigeria.”
