Nigeria collaborates with UN Refugee Commissions to strengthen capacity

The National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria says effective collaboration in the humanitarian space  is key to a successful strategy in addressing humanitarian issues.

Federal Commissioner, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim stated this in Abuja, Nigeria, at a two day joint retreat for staff of the Commission and UNHCR.

She said the retreat was organised by the two Agencies to give room for deliberation on matters that will foster their partnership.

“It also affords us an important rallying point for the provision of better protection services to our Persons of Concern (PoCs). The overall objective of this retreat is to provide an opportunity for discussions and shared understanding of the NCFRMI- UNHCR collaboration in terms of shared strategy, vision and collaboration on the protection mandate, operations, as well as broader partnerships and coordination,” Ibrahim-Sulaiman said.

Ibrahim-Sulaiman noted that the retreat also afforded the partner organisation to improve on their understanding of North-East Crisis and Cameroon refugee response as well as of tools and approaches for effective delivery of protection, programme and supply components of operations, among others.

The UNHRC Representative to Nigeria, Chansa Kapaya said the retreat was a new beginning between the two Agencies in finding a common ground to enhancing protection for all Persons of Concern.

According to her, there is a need for all stakeholders to be agile and flexible in order to respond to emerging situations.

“We need to have a vision, we need to  share a common purpose and a common objective to ensure that the protection mandate that we both strive to serve is being fulfilled,” Kapaya emphasised.

The UNHCR Representative added that the retreat also set the ground for dialogue on key issues affecting International protection for Persons of Concern.

Confidence Okwuchi