FG to Repatriate 100,000 Nigerian Refugees from Across Africa
The Federal Government has announced plans to evacuate 100,000 Nigerian refugees currently stranded in various African countries, including Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
The Director-General of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed, revealed that the government aims to empower these returnees within Nigeria rather than leaving them in foreign nations without support.
Ahmed emphasized that the recent announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the deportation of undocumented immigrants has further spurred the Nigerian government to take proactive measures in receiving and resettling affected citizens.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, he assured that the government is making necessary preparations to absorb and integrate those who will be repatriated.
Ahmed highlighted Nigeria’s leadership role as the current chair of the Rabat Process—a key Euro-African dialogue on migration and development. He stated:
“We are going to match this statement with action. The government would now leverage its position as the chair of the Rabat Process to push for softening some of the stringent international immigration laws mainly tilted against Nigeria and other African countries.”
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He further explained that Nigeria will use this platform to advocate for global policies addressing climate-induced migration, security challenges and educational gaps, which often force Nigerians to seek refuge or better opportunities abroad.
Nigeria officially assumed the leadership role in the Rabat Process during a senior officials’ meeting held on January 29-30, 2025, in Porto, Portugal.
The Rabat Process, comprising 57 partner countries, the European Union, ECOWAS and multiple international organizations, serves as a framework for migration governance, focusing on areas such as legal migration pathways, irregular migration control and international protection.
