Nigeris and Switzerland have recognized the need to expand their cooperation to broaden their joint approach to Migration related issues.
Both countries noted this at an event to commemorate the 10years migration partnership between Nigeria and the Government of Switzerland.
For the past 10 years, both countries have strengthen their cooperation by sharing expertise and best practices in implementing migration management, fighting human trafficking, preventing irregular migration, facilitating return and reintegration, and enabling sustainable labour migration.
These challenges have also allowed both countries to appreciate the opportunities migration can present and have helped to better understand its challenges.
The Nigerian Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development said over the years, the partnership has provided a number of laudable projects targeted at better management of migration in Nigeria.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Nura Alkali, the Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq said prominent amongst the Project is consolidating migration governance architecture which has facilitated the decentralisation of migration governance to the Six geo-political zones in Nigeria and institutionalising a whole government and whole of Society approach in migration governance by integrating the Civil Society Organisations and the academia into the Architecture.
“I wish to add that other projects include the NESTLE initiative which was another of such pragmatic solutions designed and implemented to directly benefit the Nigeria youths; capacity building initiatives for our border and trafficking in Person agencies as well as police cooperation etc. All of these are a reflection of the mutual trust built over the past 10 years”.
“For Nigeria, beyond the focus on international migration, our priority is also to address the situation of internal displacement being experienced in some parts of the Country. People do not get displaced by choice; rather they are forced to leave their habitual place of residence as a result of complex humanitarian conditions”, the Minister noted.
Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the relevant Agencies under its supervision, is evolving radical and creative approach to shift from a relief dependent measures to a more concrete and protection oriented strategies and durable solution options in response to the huge displacement profiles in Nigeria.
“This is inspired by the need to shift from the application of ad-hoc strategies to developing and institutionalize a more sustainable and coordinated process that derives from the principle of the Kampala Convention in addressing future displacement challenges in Nigeria while utilizing a humanitarian development peace nexus approach in all interventions and response”.
“Again Switzerland is among the countries extending solidarity to us in addressing the issue of insurgency causing internal displacement and providing support in humanitarian interventions especially in the North East. We appreciate this tremendous support. Equally we are also grateful to the international community for their various supports”, Farouq added.
For her part, the Federal Councillor and Head of Federal Department of Justice and Police in Switzerland, Karin Keller-sutter said the two countries must take concrete steps on the issue if Migration.
“Over the past decade, we have consistently developed our Migration partnership into concrete action and projects. We have held many fruitful meetings and conducted numerous valuable projects, it is in our interest to build on these achievements when shaping our future cooperation”.
“Switzerland is determined to continuously foster the dialogue within the framework of the Migration partnership and remains a close partner to Nigeria and the Nigerian people”, Keller-sutter said.
The project “facilitating sustainable reintegration of voluntary returnees through business support in Nigeria” was launched in 2017 and forms an integral part of the return and reintegration component of the migration partnership between Nigeria and Switzerland.
Dominica Nwabufo
