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Tag: National Commission for Refugees

  • Fed Govt eyes migration to boost remittances

    Fed Govt eyes migration to boost remittances

    The federal government has disclosed plans to attract more investments and remittances of Nigerians in diapoara through regular migration.

    Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijani Ahmed also revealed that the country generated $23 billion from remittances of Ngerians outside the country in 2023.

    He said NIgeria has the potential to generate more and develop the economy if some of the challenges faced by migrants are addressed.

    The Federal Commissioner also said NIgeria is currently in talks with some countries following complaints of maltreatment and involuntary deportation of Nigerians.

    Ahmed disclosed this in Abuja on Friday at a press conference ahead of the 2024 National Migration Dialogue (NMD) with the theme: “Beyond Borders: Celebrating Migrants’ Legacy, Protecting Their Rights”.

     He said: “When Nigerians leave the country regularly, we will receive more remittances that would enhance the development of the country. Also, investment will grow. Some Nigerians who leave our country send their investment back home and they cannot do that when they don’t leave this country.

    Read Also: National migration policy to curb untimely death, maltreatment of migrants, says FG

     “In 2023, Nigeria earned over $23billion through remittances and this is a huge advantage to the country. So, the more Nigerians migrate regularly to other countries and engage themselves in good jobs, the more NIgeria’s remittances are enhanced and the economy will also develop”.

     On maltreatment and other issues faced by migrants, he said: “We have been receiving reports that Nigerians living outside the country are being maltreated and Nigeria is doing something about it. We are interfacing with some countries and when NIgeria becomes the Chair of the Rabat Process, we will look into issues of maltreatment, involuntary deportations and we will ensure that they are well protected.” On the importance of the dialogue, he said: “This dialogue serves as a platform to highlight the government’s initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges of irregular migration, fostering regular migration pathways, and equipping migrants with the skills and knowledge needed to make meaningful contributions to national and global development”.

     “The 2024 NMD theme, “Beyond Borders: Celebrating Migrants’ Legacy, Protecting Their Rights,” underscores the invaluable contributions of migrants to socio-economic development in both their countries of origin and destination. “It also emphasizes the urgent need to safeguard their rights, provide access to decent work, ensure accurate information, and facilitate safe and dignified migration pathways.

     “Nigeria has a unique position in the migration landscape, as both a major origin and destination country. With a large diaspora contributing significantly to national development through remittances, investments, and innovation, and with numerous migrants and refugees seeking opportunities and safety within our borders, the need for dialogue cannot be overstated.”

     He added that the forthcoming dialogue serves as an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its preparedness and commitment to take up the chairmanship of the Rabat Process in 2025.

  • FG moves to discourage young Nigerians from migration

    The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants & Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI) on Monday commenced a national skills acquisition programme for about 2000 Nigerian returnees and persons of concern.

    NCRMI’s South-West Zonal Head, Mrs Margaret Ukegbu, made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of a Five-Day Skills Acquisition Training for returnees and persons of concern in Surulere and Yaba, in Lagos State.

    Ukegbu said that the decision to train the returnees and others by

    the commission was to discourage them and those intending to travel to Europe or other foreign countries.

    “The Honourable Federal Commissioner believes that providing durable solutions to the challenges of these returnees is the best way to ensure that they have dignity.

    “So the commission has come up with the training programme as the most practical and result-oriented way of empowering these returnees and persons of concern to become self-sufficient and self-sustaining.

    “The commission really wants these young Nigerians to know that there is no need for them to be seeking better lives abroad and that that better life and opportunities are available to them in this country.

    “It is just for them to seek the better life and opportunities around

    them and earn revenue on a daily basis, rather than risking their lives while trying to travel to Europe,’’ she said.

    Read Also: Immigration to foreigners: vote and go to jail

    Ukegbu said that the training was scheduled to hold simultaneously in Yaba and Surulere in Lagos State, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, and the North-East of the country, within five days.

    The NCRMI official said that the training was meant to develop the skills of the returnees, refugees and persons of concern in

    cosmetology, phone repairs, soap making and photography.

    She said the 200 beneficiaries in the South-West, covering Yaba, Surulere and Ijebu-Ode, would be exposed to skills in cosmetology, phone repairs, soap making and photography.

    Ukegbu also said that the commission would at the end of the training issue certificates and start-up allowances to the 2000 beneficiaries in the selected communities.

    A beneficiary, Phil Jimoh, expressed satisfaction at the commission’s initiative, adding that the training would equip him with the skills for repairing phones, as well as the start-up grant.

    Jimoh said that he would be happy to start his phone repairs services in Nigeria, rather than exposing himself to dangers while trying to travel to Europe.

    Another beneficiary, Yusuf Mulikat also said that the training would enable her and others to realise the existing engagement opportunities for them in Nigeria.

    Mulikat expressed optimism that the training would wipe tears from the faces of many other returnees and persons of concern that had gone through harrowing experiences

     

  • SGF to induct Board chairmen, members on Corporate Governance

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha will on Thursday 26th July, 2018 open an induction programme for recently appointed Board Chairmen and Members, on Corporate Governance in their agencies.

    A statement by Lawrence Ojabo, Director Press in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that it aims at establishing and promoting good board governance culture rooted in the Federal Public Service Precepts, Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Organisational values.

    Read Also:SGF denies composition of Buhari 2019 presidential support committee

    “The Heads of EFFC, ICPC, BPP and a retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation will facilitate the programme, which ends on Saturday 28th July, 2018”

    Agencies invited to the programme are Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF).

    Others are Galaxy Backbone, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRIMI) and Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

  • World Refugees Day: FG promises more welfare for IDPS, Migrants

    World Refugees Day: FG promises more welfare for IDPS, Migrants

    …UNHCR laments condition of refugees

     

    The Federal Government on Monday promised that it will continue to make provisions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and migrants precipitated by crisis in the various camps scattered across the country in line with mandate and principles of international protection.

    The assurance was given by the Federal Commissioner in charge of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Sadiya Umar Farouk while presenting food items to inmates of the refugees camp in Nyanya Gwandara, Nasarawa State as part of activities to mark the World Refugee Day.

    June 20 is marked as World Refugee Day.

    As part of activities to mark the day, Farouk led ‎representatives of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the camp.

    Farouk said that the aim of the visit was to empathize with refugees and IDPs who have found themselves in circumstances not pleasant for humanity.

    She urged Nigerians and all individuals to take a moment to remember all those affected, assuring them that they are not forgotten.

    She said “The National Commission for Refugee, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons will continue to play its role in accordance with its mandate and principles of international protection.”

    The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jose Antonio Canhandula lamented the condition of the refugees which he said was caused by no fault of theirs.

    He called on the international community to show solidarity with the refugees predicament.

    Also in her remarks, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender, Dr Fatima Diasow ‎assured that ECOWAS was doing everything within its powers to curtail the disturbing incidence of conflicts across the region.

    Diasow, who was represented at the occasion by Mr Alozie Amaechi, assured that ECOWAS was willing to partner with UNHCR and other world bodies to address the sufferings of citizens caught in conflict situations across the region.

    The spokesperson of the refugees, Germaine Ukumu commended Nigeria for the show of love and provision for stranded African refugees, despite competing demands on lean resources owing to the government’s engagements in the fight against terrorism.

    She said “Whoever gives a refugee a cup of water or shelter has done mighty before God. We here there are over 50 million refugees in the world today, and more troubles are taking place to force more people out of their countries into exile.

    “Now, there is a new trend, the IDPs syndrome that has occupied ‎the attention and resources of the federal government of Nigeria in recent times due to terrorism. Despite all that, Nigeria has continued to show large heart to stranded Africans and refugees,” she said.

     

  • Commission donates items to refugees, promises empowerment

    Commission donates items to refugees, promises empowerment

    The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) on Thursday donated food and non-food items to refugees and asylum seekers in Nasarawa State with a promise to empower them.

    Hajiya Sadiya Farouk, Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI made the donation to the refugees and asylum seekers living at Nyanyan-Gwandara Transit Camp, Nasarawa State.

    Farouk said the distribution of the items was in line with the mandate of the commission to alleviate the sufferings of displaced persons, refugees and asylum seekers with a view to protect and ensure a better life for them.

    She said that plans were underway by the Commission to commence programmes to support the refugees and asylum seekers through economic empowerment.

    “Bearing in mind the critical condition of these vulnerable groups, it has become imperative to intensify our efforts to provide protection, assistance as well as provide durable solutions.

    “Finding durable solution is our aim and priority such as re-integration in host communities, rehabilitation of lives and livelihood to help them to be self-sustainable until they return to their countries.

    “ We are going to profile them to know what they can do; we will empower those that have skills in their areas of speciality and for those without skills we would engage them in skills acquisition programmes.

    “Afterwards we will equip them with starter packs so that they can become self-sufficient as we want to discourage the ideas of encampment.

    “The commission will continue to play its role in accordance with its mandate and principles of international protection by providing care, maintenance and durable solutions for persons of concerns,’’ Farouk said.

    She said that the commission had put in stringent measures under its Refugees Status Determination Programme data to ascertain those who are refugees and asylum seekers.

    She said that the commission had set up a team that would supervise the distribution of the items to ensure that they reach the beneficiaries and are judiciously used.

    Farouk said that the commission would soon commence distribution of relief items to IDPs from Taraba who fled to Nasarawa State as a result of communal clashes.

    In his remarks, Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Almakura, commended the commission for its unrelenting efforts in addressing the plights of the refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs.

    Almakura, represented by his deputy Mr Silas Agara, noted that refugees, asylum seekers and persons of concerns were only victims of circumstances who were forced to flee their homes in search of safety.

    He said that the state government was committed to supporting the efforts of the NCFRMI to ensure the rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons in the area.

    The governor said that the state recorded had success in its rehabilitation programme as it had no record of its indigenes as IDPs since most of them were happily resettled.

    Responding on behalf of the refugees and asylum seekers, Mrs Germaine Ukwunu from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), appreciated Nigeria for accepting, supporting and integrating them into the country.

    She said that inspite of the challenges of insurgency and internal displacement, Nigeria had played the role of big brother.

    Ukwunu pleaded with the government to create an enabling environment where they could have job opportunities, education for their children, access to health care and a monthly stipend.

    She promised that the refugees and asylum seekers would continue to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and pledged their loyalty and be law abiding.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items distributed include 24 bags of beans, 21 bags of rice, 24 bags of garri, 10kg of 24 bags of salt, 25 bags of sugar, 30 set of cooking pots and 30 set of stoves.

    Others are 25 kegs of four litres palm oil and vegetable oil, one bale of mosquito nets, blankets, wrappers, children clothing, detergents among others.

    NAN also reports that transit facility is currently hosting 23 families from Chad, Cameroon, Eritrea, DRC, Niger with most of them having lived there for more than 15 years

  • Commission to empower 60,000 IDPs in Kebbi

    The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons says it will empower over 60,000 Internally Displaced Persons in Kebbi with sustainable skills to be self-reliant and productive.

    The Federal Commissioner of the commission, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, made this known during an assessment tour of IDPs camp in Bunza Local Government Area on Thursday.

    “We are here on assessment tour to see for ourselves the IDPs that are here and the conditions they are in Bunza which has the largest number of IDPs in the state.

    “We will go back and make preparations on how we should assist you to be self-reliant and productive,” the commissioner said.

    According to her, the state has over 60,000 IDPs, which is the highest in the North-west geopolitical zone of the country.

    Farouq said the commission would come up with skills acquisition programmes with focus on farming and agriculture for IDPs and migrants.

    She appealed to the IDPs to exercise patience as the Federal Government concludes plans to provide them with the needed sustainable empowerment tools.

    In his remarks, the Executive Chairman, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Sani Dododo, commended the commission and non-governmental partners for their concerns to the plight of IDPs and migrants in the state.

    He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for holding onto his campaign promise of defeating and degrading the insurgency in the North- eastern part of the country.

    Dododo urged the IDPs utilise the personal donation by the federal commissioner, and urged them to exercise more patience as government moves to empower them.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commissioner offered personal assistance of undisclosed bags of rice and other items to the IDPs in Bunza Area.