IOM Calls For Stronger Collaboration Towards Achieving Safe, Orderly Migration.

By Ferdinand Olise

The International Organization for Migration, IOM, says it remains committed to working with the Government of Nigeria and all partners in the successful adoption, resource mobilization, and implementation of the Revised National Migration Policy.

The Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration, Ms. Sharon Dimanche, who stated this in Abuja at the Validation Workshop for the Revised National Migration Policy and its Integrated Implementation Plan, said this policy is more than just a framework; but a call to action for stronger collaboration across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

According to Ms Dimanche, with over 216 million people in Nigeria, both internal and international migration are growing in complexity, driven by economic aspirations, environmental challenges, insecurity, and the desire for social mobility, the waves of conflict, as well as climate-induced displacement.

The IOM Chief of Mission called for the support for the final approval of the final policy by the Federal government, which she said reflects not only technical expertise, but also shared vision of safe, orderly, and regular migration that benefits all.

She said that IOM is proud to have been part of this process, assuring that they remain committed to working with the Government of Nigeria and all partners in the successful adoption, resource mobilization, and implementation of the policy.

Meanwhile, this policy document factored in the importance of bolstering protection for vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrants in transit, women, children, victims of trafficking, as well as persons with disabilities.

She said, “In Nigeria, with over 216 million people, both internal and international migration are growing in complexity. Driven by economic aspirations, environmental challenges, insecurity, and the desire for social mobility, we see this in the increase of rural-to-urban migration, the rise of the “Japa” phenomenon, and the waves of conflict, as well as climate-induced displacement.

“We also see it in the ever-growing volume of remittances, which in 2023, amounted to a staggering USD 19.5 billion — money that sustains families and contributes to the country’s development.
In the past years, Nigeria data has also revealed that Nigeria is not just a country of origin for migrants; it is a key destination and transit hub in a growing number of West Africans. These complex dynamics highlight the critical need for comprehensive and forward-thinking migration governance.

The IOM Chief of Mission stressed that this policy is not just a theoretical framework, but has been shaped by data, including findings from Nigeria’s Voluntary GCM Reviews, the Migration Governance Indicators, and national assessments.

“It addresses emerging migration priorities in Nigeria, namely: The challenges of climate mobility and displacement, and how we can work towards environmental sustainability; The importance of investment in migration data governance; The opportunities to be harnessed in labor migration and the Nigerian diaspora; And the imperative of bolstering protection for vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrants in transit, women, children, victims of trafficking, as well as persons with disabilities.”, She said.

According to her, this policy is more than just a framework, but a call to action, a call for stronger collaboration across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, a call for a true whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. Above all, a call to recentre the conversation on migration governance around those concerned, and migrants.

“This is why we, at IOM, are proud to have been part of this process. I encourage all of us beyond the validation today to support the final approval by the Federal government of the final policy, which reflects not only our technical expertise but also our shared vision of safe, orderly, and regular migration that benefits all.”, she added.

She extended their IOM’s appreciation to their Migration Multipartner Trust Fund and their sister agencies, for their support and contributions, which she said have been instrumental in driving forward the review process, especially to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), which she said has demonstrated unwavering leadership in this process.

She also extended their appreciation to the Technical Working Group for their dedication and their expertise in ensuring that the document reviewed and hopefully validated is representatives of the realities of contemporary migration in Nigeria.

On his part, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission For Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, NCFRMI, Mr Tijani Ahmed, said Nigeria took a decisive step in 2015 with the deployment of this national migration policy which provided coherent and strategic framework

The two documents reviewed were the Revised National Migration Policy and its Integrated Implementation Plan (IIP). These reflect a careful alignment with global frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM), the Migration Policy Framework for Africa, the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol.