By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi
Nigeria has called for increased international support and burden-sharing to address the growing humanitarian crisis, disclosing that the country hosts more than 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers and over 6.7 million internally displaced persons IDPs.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, made the call while delivering Nigeria’s statement at the 77th Session of the Executive Committee, ExCom of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR Programme in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Janet McDickson Noah, Doro said Nigeria remained committed to refugee protection, maintaining an efficient asylum system and upholding the principle of non-refoulement.
“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,” he said.
The minister disclosed that Nigeria recorded no case of refoulement in 2026, reaffirming the government’s commitment to preventing the forced return of refugees to territories where their lives or freedom could be threatened.
He said the country continued to implement its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Global Compact, adding that Nigeria domesticated the Kampala Convention in 2026.
Doro noted that improved security conditions in some parts of the country were creating opportunities for voluntary returns, while the government and UNHCR had introduced the digital gateway to provide refugees with secure online access to information.
He also disclosed that Resettlement Cities for internally displaced persons had been established in seven locations to facilitate the gradual and voluntary closure of camps while ensuring safety and dignity.
According to him, more than 7,000 Nigerian refugees voluntarily returned home this year under tripartite agreements, while 14,000 Nigerians in Cameroon had registered for repatriation. An agreement for the voluntary return of 2,000 Nigerians in Niger was also being finalised.
The minister said refugees in five states were benefiting from access to land, agricultural inputs and skills training, while former Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees had successfully integrated into Nigerian communities.
He urged countries to recognise Nigeria’s Convention Travel Documents and ease visa access for their holders, stressing that freedom of movement was essential to refugee integration.
Doro also called on UNHCR to explore additional funding through regional financial institutions, including the African Development Bank and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
While thanking donors for their continued support, he stressed that international cooperation was critical to sustaining humanitarian interventions amid dwindling resources.
“But no host country can do this alone,” he said, urging the international community to expand resettlement opportunities and complementary pathways for refugees.
