The federal government on Friday reiterated its commitment to protecting and assisting all 138,154 refugees in the country to rebuild their lives.
Tijani Ahmed, the federal commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), expressed the commitment at the 2025 World Refugee Day in Abuja.
World Refugee Day is observed on June 20 every year to raise awareness about the plight of refugees worldwide.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is: “Solidarity with Refugees: A Call to Action for Inclusion”.
Mr Ahmed noted that the figures represented registered refugees and asylum seekers living in 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He explained that the forcibly displaced persons originated from 48 countries, with six nationalities – Cameroon, Niger, Syria, Central African Republic, and Sudan making up 86 per cent.
The commissioner said that out of the 138,154 refugees and asylum seekers in Nigeria, 32,746 were awaiting registration.
“We have 16,215 returnees and 1,396 spontaneous returnees, while the IDPs we have in camps are 3,576,100,” he said.
Mr Ahmed further stated that the IDPs, when added to those living outside the camps, that is, the ones living within host communities, would be no fewer than 6.2 million, with many of them women and children.
“So as we celebrate the World Refugee Day, we recognise the contributions refugees have made to our communities.
“It is an invitation to honour refugees’ voices, strengthen community ties and amplify the need for inclusion in national systems, such as social protection and local development frameworks,” he said.
According to him, the objective of the commemoration of World Refugee Day is to celebrate the resilience of refugees and to reiterate the need for countries to support millions of families all over the world who have lost their homes because of violence or war.
Mr Ahmed said that over the years, the commission had worked tirelessly to ensure refugees received the support they needed to rebuild their lives.
He listed some notable achievements of the commission, including the provision of protection and assistance to thousands of refugees, ensuring their safety and dignity, and the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees from neighbouring countries, Cameroon and Chad.
Meanwhile, Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has called for collective efforts among countries to protect displaced persons in society.
Represented by Bernadette Muteshi, Mr Grandi stressed the need to support the host countries and communities by sharing the responsibility of protecting refugees.
“We must stand with refugees to keep alive their hopes of a better future,” he said.
On his part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees to ensure their protection.
“As the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, our vision is to build a nation where no displaced person is left behind, where every refugee can rise, rebuild and thrive,” the minister said.
(NAN)