CITIZENS COMPASS – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Network on Migration have partnered with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to conduct a review of Nigeria’s National Migration Policy (NMP).
The Two-day review meeting was held on June 5 and 6, 2024, brought together over 70 representatives from ministries, departments and agencies, civil society actors, and the United Nations Network on Migration to evaluate progress made in recent years in enhancing migration governance across the country.
Launched in 2015, the National Migration Policy has been instrumental in ensuring coordination between Government and non-government actors in providing comprehensive protection to migrants, but also developing solutions to protracted displacement crises.
Recognizing the dynamic nature of migration, a mandatory 5-year post-adoption review clause was incorporated to ensure the policy accurately reflects contemporary migration realities, identify gaps, and make strategic adjustments in line with the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Opening the review workshop, the Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Mr. Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, reminded the participants of the importance of coordination to enable all actors to deliver on the promise of migration for Nigeria. “We intend to expand the review scope by identifying emerging migration trends, challenges, and opportunities that may not have been adequately addressed in the initial review plan”, he said. “The world is constantly changing, and our policies must adapt to these changes to remain effective”, he added.
Migration in Nigeria is a dynamic phenomenon with the potential to accelerate the country’s development. According to the latest World Migration Report, Nigeria received 20.13 billion USD in remittances from its diaspora, ranking it among the top remittance-receiving countries in the world. Other important migration dynamics observed across the country include labour migration, forced migration, transhumance, regular and irregular migration.
With such a vibrant migration complex, evidence-based policies and strategies must be put in place to effectively harness the potential and realise the promise of migration in Nigeria.
“Together, we ensure that the revised National Migration Policy meets international standards and resonates with Nigeria’s local realities and aspirations”, said Paola Pace, Deputy Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration. “I am confident that our collective efforts will pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for all migrants and the communities they interact with”.
The process continues with engagement at the zonal level aimed at eliciting contributions from state governments and stakeholders at the state and local government areas ensuring a whole of government and whole of society approach in the review of the National Migration Policy.
The review of the National Migration Policy is supported by the Migration Mult partnership Trust Fund (MMPTF) within the framework of the project “Strengthening Fact-Based and Data-Driven Migration Governance and Management in Nigeria”.
