The Nigerian Government in collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, has met with other stakeholders to address the issues of statelessness in the country.
The stakeholders converged in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital at a workshop organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Nura Alkali said statelessness is a development, human and humanitarian right issues that must be addressed with immediacy.
Represented by the Director Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Alkali said addressing statelessness will go a long way towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals in the context of Nigeria’s National Development agenda.
He therefore noted that the workshop was to put in place strategies and procedures to ensure that those who are entitled to Nigeria’s citizenship, bit lack the evidence to show their connection are enabled to verify their citizenship.
“The Government of Nigeria recognises the importance and urgency of obtaining concrete information on the causes of statelessness and scope of stateless persons in Nigeria”. He said.
The Director Special Duties in the Ministry, Nadia Also said the Media has a responsibility to sensitize the citizens on the issues surrounding statelessness and its effect.
“We are relying on you the Media to go all out and enlighten the people on what statelessness is and the causes”, she emphasised.
National Protection Officer, United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, Bunmi Olaonipekun said the issues of statelessness is not peculiar to Nigeria.
She noted. “Statelessness makes one invisible and excluded from State Protection”.
The UNHCR identified 5 ways of addressing statelessness:
- Research, Advocacy and sensitization
- Prevent childhood statelessness
- Prevent statelessness resulting from transfer of territory.
- Address gender and other forms of discrimination in issues of citizenship and documentation.
- Ensuring protection of the stateless and migrants.
For her part, the Director, Citizenship and Business in the Ministry of Interior, Barr. Moremi Soyinka-Onijala said the Ministry is absolutely committed to ensuring that it does all that is possible to end statelessness in collaboration with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the UNHCR.
She said that there’s need to close the gaps that exist in the Nigerian constitution which increases the risks of people being stateless.
