Nigeria has validated the Revised National Migration Policy to align with the dynamic and evolving nature of migration.
The Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu, validated the policy document at the Technical Working Group meeting on the National Migration Policy Review and its Integrated Implementation Plan, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He said the National Migration Policy, originally adopted in 2015, was a landmark achievement in providing Nigeria with a coordinated and rights-based framework for migration governance.
The Minister, however said, given the dynamic and evolving nature of migration, a review became necessary to align with emerging realities and global policy developments.
” The rationale behind the review was to reflect current migration trends and frameworks, particularly the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in 2018, to which Nigeria is fully committed as a Champion Country for implementation, as well as other national, regional and global frameworks”. He explained
He noted that the revised Policy seeks to strengthen institutional coherence, mainstream international best practices, and reinforce national ownership of migration governance.
According to Sununu, the Technical Working Group also developed an integrated implementation plan that will serve as a dual-purpose instrument; providing a roadmap for the execution of the revised National Migration Policy as well as Nigeria’s commitments under the Global Compact for Migration (GCM).
” This integrated approach is both strategic and forward-looking, and it places Nigeria in a strong position to lead by example within the region.”
The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Tijjani Ahmed said that the Integrated Implementation Plan was developed following the United Nations Network on Migration’s six-step guidance for implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
This integrated approach ensures that Nigeria’s migration policy framework is not only nationally driven but is also in alignment with global migration governance principles.
Mr Tijjani Ahmed noted that the dynamism of migration, shaped by economic shifts, social transformations, conflicts, and major global events, demands a responsive, forward-looking, and comprehensive policy framework.
“As such, we must continue to adapt and strengthen our national strategies to both harness the immense opportunities migration offers and to mitigate the challenges it may present.”
For her part, the Chief of Mission, International Organisation for Migration, IOM, Ms. Sharon Dimanche said the policy is more than just a framework; it is a call to action for stronger collaboration across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
” A call for a true whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. A call to recentre the conversation on migration governance around those concerned: the migrants themselves”.
She emphasized that the Policy is not just a theoretical framework, but has been shaped by data, including findings from Nigeria’s Voluntary Global Compact on Migration Reviews, the Migration Governance Indicators, and national assessments.
“This is why we, at IOM, are proud to have been part of this process. We remain committed to working with the Government of Nigeria and all partners in the successful adoption, resource mobilisation, and implementation of this policy.”
The Chief of Mission, IOM added that the milestone is a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to shaping a migration governance system that is inclusive, evidence-based, and rooted in global best practices.
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