From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The federal government has disclosed that about 6.1 million Nigerians are still displaced.
This was revealed by the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Aliyu Tijani, who stated this yesterday in Abuja, at the Technical Working Group on Migration and Development.
Aliyu announced that the government and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) would plan to formulate policies on migration to reduce irregular migration.
He said: “As I speak with you today, we have 6.1 million Nigerians who are displaced. Displacement is a major issue today, and that is why we are doing everything possible to ensure that those people who are displaced and living in the camps are removed from those camps through the provision of skills acquisition.
“The reason we are here is to look into the national policy on migration, which in 2022 we agreed should be reviewed.
“All the necessary processes were followed, and today we have received a draft. We will look at it holistically, and that is why almost all the thematic groups related to migration issues have been invited so that they can review the migration policies, offer their inputs, and come up with policies that will guide our work in the next five years.”
On the migration policy, he said in the next three days: “Our task is to critically review the Zero Draft of the National Migration Policy presented by the Policy Review Committee.
“The objectives of our session are clear: To officially receive and review the Zero Draft, understanding the revisions and proposed frameworks;
“To engage in detailed discussions, offering constructive feedback and recommendations that will enhance the policy;
“To harness our collective expertise and ensure that the policy remains responsive to Nigeria’s migration dynamics while advancing our national interests;
“The success of this review depends on our active participation and collaboration. Your expertise is invaluable, and I encourage you all to contribute meaningfully to the discussions.”