Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Refugee Protection, Calls for Greater Burden-Sharing at UNHCR ExCom
By Pan Afric Reporters
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting refugees and upholding the principle of non-refoulement, while calling for increased international support, expanded resettlement opportunities and greater responsibility-sharing to ease the burden on countries hosting displaced populations.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction disclosed this in a press release dated October 13, 2026, signed electronically by Janet McDickson Noah, Director of Information and Public Relations, following Nigeria’s address at the 77th Session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Programme in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, delivered Nigeria’s statement at the session, which is holding from October 12 to 16, 2026. He congratulated Dr Barham Salih on assuming office as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and assured him of Nigeria’s support, while acknowledging the contributions of his predecessor, Filippo Grandi.
Doro said the 1951 Refugee Convention remained vital 75 years after its establishment, particularly amid record global displacement and declining humanitarian resources.
Providing an overview of Nigeria’s displacement situation, the minister said the country continued to maintain an asylum system under the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) Act of 2022, with 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,” Doro said.
He reaffirmed that Nigeria remained committed to the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face persecution or serious threats, adding that no cases of refoulement had been recorded in the country during the year.
The minister also announced that Nigeria domesticated the Kampala Convention in 2026, noting that states within the country had begun following suit. He added that the country’s pledges on statelessness and the Global Compact remained on course.
Nigeria Expands Refugee Return and Reintegration
Doro said improved security conditions were creating opportunities for voluntary returns, while the Federal Government and UNHCR had advanced the Digital Gateway initiative to provide refugees with secure online access to information.
He disclosed that more than 7,000 Nigerian refugees had voluntarily returned home under tripartite agreements in 2026, while another 14,000 in Cameroon had registered to return. An agreement covering 2,000 refugees in Niger was also being finalised.
The minister expressed appreciation to Cameroon, Chad and Niger for hosting Nigerian refugees, while highlighting the establishment of Resettlement Cities for internally displaced persons in seven locations to support the phased, voluntary closure of camps in safety and dignity.
On local integration, he said former Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees had settled successfully in Nigeria, with some establishing and leading businesses. Refugees in five states are also receiving land, agricultural inputs and skills training to strengthen self-reliance.
He added that the newly established Public-Private Partnership Department of the NCFRMI was working to reduce aid dependency and promote sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Calls for International Support
The minister urged countries to recognise Nigeria’s Convention Travel Documents and facilitate visa access for their holders, stressing the importance of mobility and legal pathways for refugees.
He said displaced persons and host communities were being enrolled in the national identity system to improve access to banking, education and social services. Refugees are also being incorporated into state action plans and social registers, while ten mobile documentation buses are expected to extend services to remote communities.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to its five pledges made in 2023 and renewed in December 2025, Doro stressed that countries hosting refugees could not shoulder the responsibility alone.
“But no host country can do this alone,” he said, calling for greater international burden- and responsibility-sharing, including expanded resettlement and complementary pathways for refugees.
He also urged UNHCR to explore increased funding opportunities through partnerships with regional and subregional 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 challenging funding environment and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with UNHCR.
Nigeria’s position at the Geneva meeting underscores the Federal Government’s call for stronger international cooperation to protect refugees, support host communities and provide durable solutions for millions of people affected by displacement.
