This document provides a brief interim update on the Government of Nigeria 2019 Pledges made
at the Global Refugee Forum, in order to advance GCR Objectives. Nigeria has taken a
comprehensive approach to include both refugees, lOPs, and returnees in their pledges aligning
approaches wherever possible.
Pledge 1: Nigeria pledges to include refugees. lOPs. returnees and their host communities
in National government development plans
This pledge covers Inclusion in the NOP; harmonization of databases; and school enrolment.
This first pledge clearly articulates the Government of Nigeria’s inclusive approach to refugee,
I DP and returnee solutions, providing a crucial foundation for the inclusion of populations in
national services such as education, health, WASH, identification, and in promoting self-reliance
within the national economic development framework of the country. It presents a solid basis for
development engagement in hosting areas.
Ongoing work at government level to finalize the 2021-205 Nigeria Medium-Term Development
Plan (MTDP) incorporates refugees and IDPs, including budgetary allocation for a number of
projects. Additionally, the Government, led by the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster
Management and Social Development (FMHADMSA) has developed a
Humanitarian/Development/Peace Nexus Plan for the entire country, which adopts a
development-oriented approach for humanitarian support overall and incorporates responses to
areas hosting IDPs and refugees, with ownership through sector line ministries.
Data harmonization is ongoing, supported by the UNHCR roll-out of Progressv4. Training
sessions with government officials is ongoing in relevant locations.
In addition to I DPs and returnee children, refugees are included in the national education system
on par with nationals, benefitting from the same admission, teaching and certification criteria.
Ongoing support includes small-scale infrastructure rehabilitation, equipment and learning
materials. However, in collaboration with government and development partners, further work to
improve education enrolment is needed, looking to comprehensive support in the education
sector. Local schools in refugee hosting communities in South-South are stretched due to refugee
influx from Cameroon. In the North-East, security risks as well as financial burden hampers some
I DP children from attending to schools.
Pledge 2: Nigeria pledges to strengthen its protection capacity
This Pledge covers Integrity of asylum system and promoting legal pathways for durable
solutions; birth registration; domestication of Kampala Convention on lOPS; and the NCFRMI Bill.
Nigeria is a party to all international and regional refugee and human rights instruments relevant
to the protection of refugees without reservations. Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria enjoy prima
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facie recognition, Refugees in Nigeria have freedom of movement and the right to live and work
in Nigeria,
UNHCR engages the government continuously in strengthening the integrity of the asylum
system, NCFRMI recently led a technical review on Maintaining the Civilian and Humanitarian
Character of Asylum with different stakeholders to revise SOPs for the Cameroon Refugee
reform, NCFRMI has established Refugees and Migrant Resources Center and Transit Camps in
critical location such as Lagos, Abuja, Calabar and lvlaiduquri.
As regards to birth registration, NCFRMI works with the National Population Commission (NPC)
to strengthen the system for refugees and I DPs, with ongoing campaigns for PoCs, New births
are being registered on a continuous basis in lOP and refugee locations,
NCFRMI further leads a National Working Group on Domestication of Kampala Convention, a
step within which was achieved with the adoption of the national I DP Policy by the Federal
Executive Council on 1 st September 2021,
The NCFRMI Amendment Bill is in process of revision and resubmission.
Pledge 3: Nigeria pledges to ensure the availability and access to durable solutions for
refugees and IDPs
This pledge includes durable solutions for refugees and lOPs; reinforcement of national, state and
local capacity to ensure the sustainability of returns and loca/ integration; availability and access
to basic social services; and documentation to facilitate local integration,
The Government of Nigeria’s Humanitarian – Development – Peace Nexus Plan, which covers all
of Nigeria, has been developed with the purpose to advance durable solutions, incorporating
refugees, I DPs and returnees, The plan advocates for a development-oriented approach,
advancing localization, capacity building of local actors, area-based approaches and exit
strategies for humanitarian interventions, Resettlement cities are currently being constructed in
Borno, Edo, Zamfara, Katsina and Kano states for IDPs and returnees,
Local integration is hugely facilitated by refugee and I DP access to register with the National
Identify Management Commission, giving access to bank accounts and SIM cards, In order to
further facilitate such processes, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have directed all Nigerian
commercial Banks to honor attestation letter, I D cards, convention travel document presented by
Refugees, Asylum seeker and lOPs for opening of Bank Accounts,
The Right to Work is key to local integration; refugees, I DPs and returnees are engaged in
livelihood support activities, However, large scale engagement from the private sector and
development partners is needed to reach economic inclusion and self-reliance of displaced
populations across Nigeria,
As regards to Basic Social Services, refugees are included in the education system, and assisted
to enroll in the national health insurance scheme which allows for access to health care, All
interventions in support of basic services use a development-oriented approach of assistance to
local government service delivery capacity, Nevertheless, huge gaps in social service provision
is seen for both urban and rural refugee hosting areas,
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NCFRMI in collaboration with National Identity Management Commission is promoting
registration of refugees in National Identification Number (N I N), Arrangements to include refugees
in national social safety nets through NASSCO are at an advanced stage,
Pledge 4: Nigeria pledges to continue playing an active and constructive role in regional
and sub-regional efforts to address the root causes of displacement
This pledge includes Nigeria‘s commitment to regional approaches to forced displacement in the
context of ECOWAS and Lake Chad Basin Commission Protocols; Returns in safety and dignity;
and commitment to hold a Third Regional Protection Dialogue on the Lake Chad Basin focusing
on conflict resolution and peace building,
Nigeria has as strong commitment to regional approaches, Facilitated Voluntary Repatriation of
Nigerian refugees from Cameroon were organized in March 2021 in accordance with Tripartite
Agreement with Cameroon Singed in 2017, referring to the Borno Return Strategy for safe and
orderly return,
Currently, discussions are ongoing for a Tripartite Agreement on Voluntary Repatriation of
Nigerian refugees from Niger, in consultation with UNHCR. A similar initiative is expected with
Chad,
UNHCR Nigeria, 24 September 2021