A national policy on internal displacement is in the works and will be adopted soon, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.
Speaking at the 2018 National Migration Dialogue with the theme, “Realising the Sustainable Development Goals for all including migrants, refugees and Internally Displaced Persons,” at the presidential villa, Abuja on Monday, he said that it will help regulate the internal displacement crisis and complement the fight against insurgency in which his admin is fully committed.
The president, who assured that Nigeria will remain a migrant friendly nation, reiterated his administration’s commitment to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) with a focus on delivering hope for all citizens and migrants as well.
Buhari expressed his gratitude to Nigeria’s international partners, especially the Swiss government through Swiss Development Cooperation, the European Union delegation among others for their support and cooperation.
He informed that December 18 has been set aside by the United Nations celebrate international migrants whose number have risen to 258 million and appreciate their innumerable contributions to national and human capital development.
President Buhari said: “We celebrate their joys and happiness and more so recognize their sacrifices, pains and sorrows,” adding that Nigeria since the inaugural celebration in 2014, has continued with the national dialogue on migration.
He said his administration will continue to seek continuous improvement, adding that the National commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Person, has the mandate to improve the coordination of migration related matters in the country, as well as the resettlement of IDPs in the nation.
The president was of the view that various government interventions and Programmes are aimed at providing migrants, refugees and IDPs with the best tools to become self reliant. He said the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerian migrants from Libya remains concrete evidence of his administration’s effort in addressing the issue which was overseen by a delegation of top government officials.
He added: “The protection based activities being offered to asylum seekers and refugees in Nigeria as well as the planned safe and voluntary return of Nigerians currently living as asylum seekers in Cameroon through a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Cameroon and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. These are all well thought out activities that will ensure that Nigeria remains a migrant friendly nation.”
While noting that the theme of the dialogue was apt, the President said migration does not matter just because it adds to development but it also matters because migrants are first and foremost human beings and are therefore entitled to their fundamental human rights.
He urged: “Let us not forget that the first responsibility we owe to common humanity – namely, working for the well-being of persons of concern, promoting and the protecting rights of each citizen.
“Our approach to migration must therefore be total as we follow our citizens living outside the country to ensure that they are respected and treated will dignity, we also have the same responsibility to the millions of non-citizens living and working within our own borders.”
He further said: “I am encouraged to know that Nigeria has made efforts in the fight against irregular migration. Apart from approving migration policy which is an overall framework for the governance of migration in the country.
“The federal government has fared well on the implementation of poverty alleviation Programme through empowerment such as N-power, federal government enterprise and tradamoni and market money schemes, improvement of infrastructure in other to provide an enabling environment for entrepreneurs.”
President Buhari noted his administration has also embarked on enlightening citizens to the danger of irregular migration, which is complimentary to other institutional frameworks in place to combat irregular migration such as the Acts establishing National Agency for the Prohibition Trafficking in human beings and Nigeria Immigration service and sectoral policies like the National labour Immigration policy.
“This is all part of efforts aimed eradicating the drivers of irregular migration such as poverty, unemployment, climate change, conflicts and social inequalities,” he added.
The President said Nigeria’s commitment to Agenda 2030 and ensuring Sustainable Development Goals are realize for all, leaving no one behind and is unwavering as contained in the concept of the event.
Buhari added that the outcome of the dialogue will ensure Nigeria’s effective participation in the voluntary national reviews designed by Sustainable Development Goals periodical review progress on SDGs target for the next 15 years.
He urged that actions must deliver hope to all migrants and citizens as well.
Also speaking, the Federal Commissioner for National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Sadiya Farouq, said the event was an indication of the strong commitment of the Nigerian government to the promotion of the plight of Nigerians on the move and those forcibly displaced within and outside the country.
According to her, it also demonstrates the responsiveness of the current Administration to emerging national and global issues and trends, adding that “It goes further to boost the image of Nigeria among the comity of nations.”
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