Commission partners with Security agencies to address IDPs, Refugees issues

The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons has restated commitment to address security issues that affect the lives and livelihood of Refugees and IDPs in Nigeria.

The Federal Commissioner, Imaam Suleiman-Ibrahim said this in Abuja when she received a delegation of the National Institute of Security Studies.

According to her, it’s the mandate of the Commission to lead and coordinate national action for the protection and assistance of Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Returnees, Stateless Persons, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Migrants which are referred to as Persons of Concern to the Commission.“

Suleiman-Ibrahim said; “The Commission’s mandate was expanded by the Federal Government to cover issues relating to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the coordination of Migration and Development in 2002 and 2009 respectively.

“The Commission’s bill was reviewed and is currently at the final stage of receiving presidential accent to be approved as an Act.”

She noted that “the Commission’s renewed vision was targeted not only to address the consequences affecting the Persons of Concern, but to also tackle the root causes by ensuring the prioritisation of Economic empowerment, while the commission taps into funded global initiatives and funded development programmes, to maximize value, as well as to major on diplomacy and development.”

Suleiman-Ibrahim said;“The Humanitarian field is a call to service to Humanity, hence the Commission’s clarion call for support in line with the National Action.” 

The Commissioner however noted that insufficient funding, Post Covid-19 peculiarities were affecting PoCs.

Synergy between Humanitarian actors,Inadequate Data on PoCs, Need for Office Space and infrastructure for Data/Profiling Centre are many challenges affecting the activities of the Commission.

The Commandant, National Institute of Security Studies, Mr A.S Adeleke, who led the delegation to the office of the Federal Commissioner, said the team was there to foster partnership between the two organisations.

According to him, the Institute has a track record of achievements not only on security issues, but also management related.

Mr Adeleke added that the delegation was a representative of all security agencies in the country.

Mercy Chukwudiebere