FG IOM, others review national migration policies
Jutha Tada, Maiduguri
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN Network on Migration have partnered with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to review Nigeria’s policy on migration.
According to IOM, the two-day review meeting in Abuja comprises 70 representatives from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), civil society actors, and the UN Network on Migration.
The review of the National Migration Policy (NMP) is supported by Migration Multi-Partnership Trust Fund (MMPTF) within the framework of the project.
The Deputy Chief of Mission of the IOM, Paola Pace, yesterday (Monday), in a statement in Maiduguri, disclosed: “We’re to evaluate progress made in recent years in enhancing migration governance across the country.
“Together, we ensure that the revised NMP meets international standards and resonates with Nigeria’s local realities and aspirations.
“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.”
She noted that the NMP, launched in 2015, has been instrumental in ensuring coordination between government and non-government actors in providing comprehensive protection to migrants, including developing solutions to protracted displacement crises.
Pace, therefore, explained that recognising the dynamic nature of migration, a mandatory 5-year post-adoption review clause was incorporated to ensure the policy accurately reflects contemporary migration realities by identifying gaps and making strategic adjustments in line with the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Declaring the policy review workshop open, NCFRMI’s Federal Commissioner, Aliyu 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.
He noted that the world is constantly changing, and migration policies must adapt to these changes to remain effective.
Migration in Nigeria is a dynamic phenomenon with the potential to accelerate the country’s development.
