World Migrants Day: Nigeria to partner with Civil Society Organisations

The Nigerian Government says it is engaging more Civil Society Organisations to enrich and sustain Migration policies programmes in the country.

 

Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim announced this at a press conference organised in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration, IOM and Civil Society Network on Migration Development, ahead of the International Day for Migrants.

 

The Commissioner said engaging CSOs became imperative because of the crucial role they play as key partners in the Nigerian Migration governance structure.

 

She stated that the day was set aside by the United Nations to resound recognise and appreciate International Migrants for their great contributions to national and human development in Nigeria and the world over.

 

 

 

“Particularly at the grassroots as well as its support for migration policy formulation and implementation.

 

“This will therefore enable a platform for Civil Society Organisations to contribute in enriching the Dialogue by engaging and interrogating the sustainability of migration programmes in Nigeria.

 

“This year, international migration partners, government dignitaries, selected members of the Organised Private Sector, State Actors and at least 90 Civil Society Organizations will be physically participating in the programme. We expect about 500 people to connect to the programme online from Nigeria and beyond,” she explained.

 

According to her, Migration governance in Nigeria has seen continuous improvement since the expansion of the mandate of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and internally Displaced Persons in 2002 and 2009, by presidential directives, to include the coordination of all migration-related matters in the country as well as the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons in the Nation.

 

“This is evidenced in that the National Migration Policy was launched in 2015 along with Its 2019 -2023 Plan of Action subsequently. We are currently on the verge of reviewing the Migration Policy.

 

“With the support of the IOM, we have successfully carried out the repatriation and reintegration of stranded Nigerian nationals from Libya and other countries over the years. We are stepping up our efforts to provide long-term solutions to those in need. Nigeria provides a welcoming environment for refugees”

 

“ Nigeria now hosts around 73,000 refugees of different countries. We are dedicated to facilitating the safe repatriation of Nigerian refugees who voluntarily desire to be repatriated and are presently seeking asylum in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Nigeria has entered into tripartite agreements between these host countries and UNHCR. These are all well-planned efforts that will guarantee Nigeria stays a welcoming country for migrants,”  Imaan emphasised

 

Tripartite Agreement 
Imaan further said that the Commission signed a historic tripartite agreement between the NCFRMI, the Lagos State Government, and IOM for the takeover, refurbishment, and usage of an Emergency Returnees Relief center in Igando, Lagos State to facilitate the safe and dignified return of refugees.

 

She said, “The center officially opened on 11th November 2021. The transit center will be used for receiving arriving beneficiaries, temporarily accommodate vulnerable cases in need of shelter, family tracing for unaccompanied minors, cases requiring mental health and psychosocial support and victims of human trafficking,”

 

“The Commission has partnered with stakeholders in various sectors in order to provide trainings and life skills to Persons of Concern across the nation. These trainings are intensive and hands-on which will allow participants master proficiencies in order to undertake entrepreneurial endeavors afterwards. Such projects are the Project Skill-Up in partnership with iCreate Africa, Project Reliance in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Project GoDigital in partnership with National Information Technology Development Agency and a training of Persons of Concern by Innoson motors”.

 

She stated that the National Policy on Internal Displacement has received Presidential approval, which will aid in addressing the country’s internal displacement situation.

 

 

The overall goal of the policy is to strengthen the institutional mechanism and frameworks for the realisation of the rights, dignity and wellbeing of vulnerable populations through the mitigation of impact and achievement of durable solutions to internal displacements in Nigeria.

 

“ With the approval of the policy, a multi-sectorial structure will fully emerge, which will ensure a coordinated, operational and strategic response to all the humanitarian challenges our great nation is facing”.

 

The day is set aside by the United Nations to resound recognise and appreciate international migrants for their great contributions to national and human development in Nigeria and the world over.

 

Target

 

Gathering and analysis of reliable data on migration:

Ensure evidenced-based and coordinated response;

Develop targeted communication tools;

Strengthen governance of migration for safe, orderly and regular migration;

Enhance the provision of accurate and timely information at all stages of migration and improve the migration coordination mechanism at the National, State and Local government levels.

Only through these can we achieve success and sustain our momentum.

 

For her part, National Project Officer, Labour Migration and Diaspora for IOM, Elizabeth Poage said IOM has been supporting the efforts of the Government of Nigeria to manage migration through capacity-building, advisory services, and technical assistance on migration matters, including migration health and information, assisted voluntary returns, and counter-trafficking since the year 2001.

 

She said despite the economic downturn by the current pandemic, Nigeria received 17.2 billion USD in remittances in 2020 which counts among the largest remittance receivers in Africa.

“With COVID-19 we all realized the pivotal role of migrants in weathering the pandemic. Migrants have been on the frontlines, taking care of the sick, providing the essentials to all of us who were called to restrict our movements to the minimum.

 

”On the National Migration Dialogue and the International Migrants Day we reiterate the fundamental right to freedom of movement as enshrined in Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the contribution of migrants to both countries of origin and destination depends crucially on whether their human rights are safeguarded and protected from discrimination,” Poage said

 

IOM interventions focus on protection and support services for migrants and their families by fostering the synergies between migration and development, while promoting legal avenues for regular migration as an alternative to irregular migration.

 

 

 

Confidence Okwuchi