The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has called on the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Migration and Development to consider review of the National Migration Policy (NMP).
NCRRMI boss, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim made the call in her address of welcome at the Meeting of TWG on Migration and Development in Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
The meeting was organised by NCFRMI in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), within the Special Measure Programme of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration.
According to Sulaiman-Ibrahim, TWG is the second highest level of Migration Governance in Nigeria, as recognised in the NMP.
“The TWG brings together all the key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAS), academia, public-private sectors, Civil Society organisations, involved in migration management, as well as returnee associations to facilitate sharing of information and ideas.
“I would like to appreciate the thematic leads for their dogged commitment in designing and implementing relevant programmes that have strengthened the migration governance architecture of Nigeria over the past several months.
“Their effective engagement with relevant stakeholders in their respective thematic groups have yielded dividends across board.
“it is my expectation that this meeting will also provide a platform to discuss the review of the National Migration Policy 2015, which is due for review.
“It is therefore imperative, that this TWG develops modalities for the review of the NMP and the Standard Operating Procedure on Return, Readmission and Reintegration.
“And to incorporate all relevant Stakeholders not listed in the policy, to ensure an all-of-Government and all-of-society approach,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.
Also speaking, the Chief of Mission of IOM, Mr Franz Celestin, represented by the Acting Chief of Mission, Ms Prestage Murima said the TWG represents the coordination mechanism.
He added that it was aimed at operationalising the implementation of the NMP through the key role the forum plays in synchronizing the contribution of all the stakeholders.
“Consequently, the overall objective of this meeting is to enhance effective collaboration, coordination, and information sharing among all stakeholders involved in migration management in Nigeria.
“Today you will hear the traditional updates from the national Migration Thematic Leads that are important in assessing where are we in terms of reaching the targets set in the NMP.
“We will also have an update on the International Migration Review Forum (IMFR) 2022 – the primary intergovernmental global platform to discuss and share progress on the implementation of all aspects of the Global Compact on Migration,” Celestin said. (NAN)