Nigeria Seeks Greater Global Support for Refugee Protection

By Harriet Tornguvan 

Nigeria has called for stronger international burden sharing, expanded resettlement opportunities and increased funding to support countries hosting refugees and internally displaced persons.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, made the call while delivering Nigeria’s statement at the 77th Session of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Programme in Geneva, Switzerland.

The session, holding from October 12 to 16, 2026, brought together stakeholders to discuss refugee protection and related humanitarian challenges.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Janet McDickson Noah, Doro reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to refugee protection, the principle of non-refoulement and the country’s international obligations.

He said Nigeria continued to maintain a fair and efficient asylum system under the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) Act of 2022, keeping its borders open to people fleeing persecution.

“As of September 2026, we host over 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 42 countries, and have received over 24,000 returnees, and over 6.7 million internally displaced persons,” the minister said.

Doro disclosed that Nigeria had recorded no case of refoulement in 2026, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting people seeking safety.

He added that the country’s pledges on statelessness and the Global Compact on Refugees remained on course, while the Kampala Convention on the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa was domesticated in 2026, with states beginning to implement its provisions.

The minister said improved security conditions had created opportunities for voluntary returns, noting that Nigeria had recorded progress in collaboration with UNHCR on the Digital Gateway, which provides refugees with secure online access to information.

He also disclosed that resettlement cities for internally displaced persons had been established in seven locations to support the phased and voluntary closure of camps while ensuring the safety and dignity of displaced people.

On refugee repatriation, Doro said more than 7,000 Nigerian refugees had voluntarily returned home this year under tripartite agreements, while another 14,000 Nigerians in Cameroon had registered for return.

He added that an agreement covering 2,000 Nigerians in Niger was being finalised, while expressing appreciation to Cameroon, Chad and Niger for hosting Nigerian refugees.

The minister further highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to promote local integration and economic self-reliance among refugees.

According to him, former Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees have integrated into Nigerian communities, with some establishing and leading businesses.

He said refugees in five states were receiving land, farm inputs and skills training, while the newly established Public-Private Partnership Department of the NCFRMI was working to reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance.

Doro also urged countries to recognise Nigeria’s Convention Travel Documents and facilitate visa issuance for holders, saying such measures would improve access to international travel opportunities.

He said the government was working to enrol displaced persons and host communities in the national identity system to improve access to banking, education and social services.

The minister added that refugees were being incorporated into state action plans and social registers, while 10 mobile documentation buses would soon be deployed to reach people in remote areas.

He said Nigeria reaffirmed its five pledges made in 2023 in December 2025, but stressed that the country could not address the growing humanitarian burden alone.

“No host country can do this alone,” Doro said, calling for greater international responsibility-sharing, including expanded resettlement programmes and complementary pathways for refugees.

He urged UNHCR to explore opportunities to scale up humanitarian funding through partnerships with regional and sub-regional financial institutions, including the African Development Bank and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.

Doro thanked international donors for their continued support despite the difficult global funding environment and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with UNHCR.

He also congratulated Dr Barham Salih on assuming office as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and assured him of Nigeria’s support, while commending the outgoing High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, for his decade of leadership.