By Jacinta Nwachukwu
Nigeria has advocated for regional collaboration and coherent policy to enhance migration governance and sustainable solutions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria is the Chair of the Rabat Process, a key Euro-African dialogue on migration and development.
The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ahmed disclosed this at the virtual meeting of the Steering Committee of the Rabat Process.
He said that Nigeria would strengthen migration governance and ensure that migration contributes positively to national and regional development.
“The country’s leadership aims to enhance cooperation between African and European partners to tackle pressing migration challenges while promoting opportunities for youths, diaspora engagement and regular migration pathways.
“With strong backing from the nation’s international partners, Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Rabat Process marks a new era of strategic migration dialogue, shaping policies that benefit both migrants and host communities,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s leadership will focus on three core thematic areas: Regional Cooperation, Inclusive Migration and a Balanced and Humane Approach.
He explained that Nigeria’s leadership would promote safe, legal, and beneficial migration pathways, with particular attention to youths and innovation.
“It will also address challenges such as missing migrants, climate-induced mobility and human trafficking, while ensuring sustainable reintegration,” he added.
Ahmed said Nigeria envisioned tangible progress in stronger regional and bilateral cooperation, adding that it would foster collective action on migration governance at the end of its tenure.
He advised Nigerian youths on safe travel and digital qualifications, emphasising on the importance of educating youths on the right ways to travel and acquire skills for economic growth.
He further called for more advocacy through media, universities, and industries to reach out to young people and providing them with the necessary information.
The Rabat Process Steering Committee consists of 16 members, including seven African countries, seven European countries and two regional organisations.(NAN)