By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to address the challenges faced by displaced persons in Nigeria and strengthening its partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
This was the fulcrum of of engagement during a courtesy visit by the UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Arjun Jain, to the Ministry of Interior.
Representing the Minister of Interior, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, warmly welcomed Mr. Jain and his delegation.
“The Ministry of Interior is open to partnerships in areas discussed with the UNHCR,” the Permanent Secretary stated. “We are particularly focused on continuing our collaboration in addressing statelessness and supporting the children of naturalised Nigerians. Stronger cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is essential for the recognition and issuance of bonafide travel documents for these individuals.”
On the intractable and lingering Nigeria-Cameroon border and the Bakassi Returnees, the Permanent Secretary assured that it remains a key part of the National Action Plan, emphasizing the importance of following through with implementation.
Also on the matter of livelihood for displaced persons, she proposed a coordinated approach involving the Ministry of Agriculture, the North East Development Commission (NEDC), and other relevant bodies. “We need a joint implementation committee to devise livelihood solutions tailored to the specific geographical areas of displaced populations,” she explained.
Jain expressed his gratitude to the Ministry for its continuous support towards refugees over the years. “The Ministry of Interior is a crucial partner in our efforts,” he noted. He shared the latest global data indicating that out of 120 million displaced persons worldwide, three per cent are Nigerians.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry of Interior and the UNHCR to ensure better support and solutions for refugees and displaced persons in Nigeria.
To this end, the Department of Citizenship and Business will represent the Ministry on various committees, in collaboration with other ministries, to address the livelihood challenges of displaced persons effectively.
