Abuja: Ms Ugochi Daniels, the Deputy Director-General of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has stated that over 70,000 irregular migrants have been repatriated to Nigeria, making it the leading country in returns.
She disclosed this when Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, received Daniels in her office.
Daniels added that about 27,000 of the irregular migrants, a significant number, had been successfully reintegrated into society through its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme (AVRR), a testament to the programme’s success.
Daniels said, “The organisation is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for all migrants and accelerating the transformative initiatives to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“We have a very comprehensive intervention in Nigeria. We count on your continued support for the work of IOM in Nigeria,” She reassured Odumegwu-Ojukwu of the organisation’s commitment to the government and people of Nigeria.
Speaking, the Minister reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the IOM in tackling migration crises. She explained President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy approach, the 4-Ds, which stands for Democracy, Demography, Diaspora, and Development. According to her, the 4-Ds are focused on citizen diplomacy, addressing concerns about the welfare of the over 17 million Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described Nigeria’s vibrant Diaspora population as individuals who have played critical roles in the nation’s economy by driving development.
She highlighted the contributions of millions of Nigerian migrants in the Diaspora, stressing the need for IOM to promote positive narratives on migration.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also reiterated the longstanding cooperation between Nigeria and IOM in tackling concerns relating to vulnerable migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
In addition, the Minister also praised the IOM’s strategic direction, which she said had saved lives and protected people on the move, driven solutions to displacement, and facilitated pathways for regular migration.
She commended the IOM for responding to severe displacement caused by flooding in parts of the country, especially in Niger state.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that IOM deployed rapid response teams to support data collection, conduct initial damage assessment, and provide emergency shelter kits and non-food items packages to support up to 1,000 of the most vulnerable families.
“As part of the UN80 Reform Initiative, Nigeria is willing to host International Organisations/UN Operations that are relocating from Geneva or New York.
“IOM Nigeria is implementing a programme entitled: “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria (PBMM),” funded by the European Union to assist the government in managing irregular migration through immigration and border management, migration data, policy, and labour migration and Diaspora mobilisation.”