FG returns 50,000 Nigerian refugees in three years

The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons says it has facilitated the return of about 50,000 Nigerian refugees to the country over the past three years.

The commission also said it was managing more than 6.7 million displaced persons in Nigeria, including people living in camps and host communities.

Federal Commissioner of the NCFRMI, Aliyu Ahmed, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at an event marking his three years in office.

Ahmed said Nigerians who had been living as refugees in countries including Cameroon, Niger Republic, Chad and Liberia had been returning to the country, while Nigeria also continued to host refugees from other countries.

He added that the commission recently received 1,400 Nigerians from South Africa and had continued to coordinate returnees across the country.

According to him, the commission’s responsibilities extend beyond displaced persons to include support for communities hosting them.

“You cannot attend to only the displaced individuals; you must equally consider those who are receiving these IDPs in their communities,” he said.

Ahmed said the commission was also working to establish more reliable data on migrants and displaced persons, noting that a consultant had been engaged to develop a robust data management system.

He said the commission was shifting from short-term relief to durable solutions, including farming and skills training, to help displaced persons become self-reliant.

Ahmed added that the NCFRMI was providing education for children living in displacement camps as part of efforts to improve their long-term prospects.