By Kolawole Ojebisi
The federal government has set up a committee to review the national migration policy.
This is as Nigerians, especially those of the youth demographics, are leaving the country in droves, often through illegal routes, to seek greener pastures.
This move by the federal government was disclosed by the federal commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijani Ahmed, on Tuesday.
Ahmed spoke at a three-day meeting of the technical working group on migration and development in Abuja.
Ahmed said the review is necessary to enhance migration governance and management in the country.
The federal commissioner noted that the decision to review the national policy was agreed upon in 2022, stressing that the outcome would ensure that Nigerians migrate safely.
“The committee has been set up to oversee the necessary processes and logistics related to the migration policy,” he said.
“Various issues related to migrations, including internal and international displacement due to flooding and banditry, are being addressed.
“The goal is to create a comprehensive and holistic policy to guide workers over the next five years.
“Together, we can produce a national migration policy that sets a benchmark for effective migration governance and positively impacts our nation and its people.”
He said many Nigerians live as refugees in neighbouring countries, with no fewer than 53,000 persons in Cameroon alone.
“In Nigeria, there are about 25,000 refugees, with additional numbers in Chad and other regions,” he said.
Ahmed added that the government is working on repatriating the refugees back to Nigeria.
The meeting was organised by NCFRMI, with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the Migration Partnership Trust Fund (MPTF).
