The federal government has assured refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) of improved access to livelihoods, agribusiness opportunities, education and social protection programmes as part of efforts to help them rebuild their lives and achieve self-reliance.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2026 World Refugee Day, where he reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to the protection, welfare and empowerment of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons.
Speaking on the theme, “Until Everyone is Safe,” Akume said the Federal Government was deliberately integrating humanitarian assistance with long-term development strategies under the Renewed Hope Agenda to create sustainable pathways for displaced persons.
“The Federal Government is deliberately shifting from palliatives to pathways by linking humanitarian response to development opportunities. We are committed to ensuring that displaced persons not only survive but thrive through access to livelihoods, agribusiness opportunities, education, and social protection programmes,” he said.
The SGF disclosed that Nigeria currently hosts more than 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers, largely from countries within the Lake Chad Basin, while millions of Nigerians remain displaced by various humanitarian crises.
According to him, the government’s response is anchored on three key pillars: protection, livelihoods and durable solutions, implemented through the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
Akume noted that climate-induced displacement, insecurity and protracted conflicts across the world have heightened the need for stronger international cooperation and sustained commitment to refugee protection.
He stressed that refugees and displaced persons should not be seen merely as victims of circumstance but as people with enormous potential who deserve dignity, opportunities and support.
The SGF also revealed that the Federal Government was expanding the National Social Register to accommodate more vulnerable persons, including displaced populations and host communities, in a bid to ensure targeted, transparent and data-driven humanitarian assistance.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, commended the resilience of refugees worldwide and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to international humanitarian principles and global best practices in supporting vulnerable populations.
Doro called on governments, development partners, humanitarian agencies, and host communities to strengthen efforts to provide protection and durable solutions, and opportunities for self-reliance for refugees and displaced persons.
Earlier, the Federal Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, said solidarity with refugees must go beyond expressions of sympathy to practical actions that protect their rights and dignity.
Ahmed said genuine protection should include access to quality education, healthcare, decent shelter, legal identity, social services and opportunities for meaningful participation in society.
