TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING

Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim urges all to partner with government to ensure refugees are given the needed support

The 1951 Refugee Convention defines a refugee as: “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.” To honour refugees around the globe, the United Nations has designated June 20 of every year as a World Refugee Day.

The day celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. It is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Together We Can Achieve Anything”, while the sub-theme is “Together we heal, learn and shine”, which calls for a greater inclusion of refugees in health systems, school and sports.

In Nigeria, the World Refugee Day is commemorated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

There are 26.3 million refugees in the world. Out of this figure, 73,000 are in Nigeria, out of which 71,400 are refugees and 1,600 are asylum-seekers. Nigeria plays host to refugees and asylum seekers from these countries: Cameroon, Niger, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan, Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Cotre d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, Togo and China.

The World Refugee Day is significant to the global world and the 26.3 million refugees because it shines a light on their rights, needs and dreams, helping to mobilize political will and resources so that they cannot only survive but also thrive. While it is important to protect and improve their lives every single day, international days like World Refugee Day help to focus global attention on the plight of those fleeing conflict or persecution, as many activities held on World Refugee Day create opportunities to support refugees.

This piece while highlighting the significance of the World Refugee Day, is also meant to present an overview of the implementation of the pledges by Nigeria at the Global Forum on Refugees (GRF) Conference which held in 2019 at Geneva, Switzerland. Nigeria at the conference made the following four pledges: One, to include refugees, IDPs, returnees and their host communities in National Government Development Plans. Nigeria has adopted the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020 that covers humanitarian assistance; relocation; rehabilitation; resettlement; peace building; security; infrastructure; agriculture; health; education; and governance;

Two, to strengthen its protection capacity, by ensuring the integrity of the asylum system in line with international legal instruments and freedom of movement for refugees, IDPs and returnees; maintaining its open-door policy; and promoting legal pathways to durable solutions.

Three, to ensure availability and access to durable solutions for refugees and IDPs, in consultation with affected populations and host communities, with particular attention to children, youth, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups; and four, to continue playing an active and constructive role in regional and sub-regional efforts to address the root causes of displacement.

Nigeria, through the NCFRMI, an agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has taken steps in the fulfilment of the pledges, through collaboration with some other agencies. Some of the actions taken are listed hereunder:

One, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, in 2020, made a special provision for NCFRMI in the designing of Economic Sustainability Plan so as to ease implementation of key actions relating to refugees and IDPs. One of the key Economic Sustainable Plans is the commencement of the building of resettlement cities in Borno, Edo, Zamfara and Katsina States for returnees and IDPs towards ensuring durable solution for their shelter needs.

Two, in February 2021, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued directive to banks and financial institutions to recognise refugee identity card issued by NCFRMI and UNHCR, and Convention Travel Document (CTD) issued by NCFRMI and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for the purposes of identification in opening of bank accounts to facilitate access to financial services in Nigeria.

Three, there are ongoing discussions for inclusion of refugees in national social safety nets through the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO). This is being done in conjunction with NCFRMI and UNHCR.

Four, refugees are included in the national educational and health systems, including the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), at par with Nigerian citizens.

Five, there is government-led provision of lands for refugees’ settlement and use for agriculture in Cross River State in South-South Region of Nigeria and Benue State, in the North-Central Region.

Six, Nigeria maintains positive protection environment by ensuring the integrity of the asylum system in line with international legal instruments and freedom of movement for refugees, IDPs and returnees; maintaining its open-door policy; and promoting legal pathways to durable solutions.

Seven, Nigeria is facilitating access to birth registration and the enrolment of refugees, IDPs and returnees into the national identity management system to prevent and reduce the risk of statelessness and facilitate access to services. As of 2021, NCFRMI has been licensed to facilitate enrolment of refugees on the National Identity Number (NIN) as required by government through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Eight, action on the repeal and replacement of the NCFR Act to incorporate the protection of migrants and internally displaced persons under its mandate has been concluded and awaiting Presidential assent.

Nine, domestication of the Kampala Convention relating to refugees and IDPs has been concluded and incorporated in the new NCFR Act. Ten, launch of Project Reliance, which is a flagship project of NCFRMI in collaboration with the CBN designed to provide loans to returnees, IDPs and other Persons of Concern (PoCs) to make them self-reliant.

Eleven, Town Hall Meetings held by NCFRMI with PoCs-refugees, migrant returnees and IDPs- to identify their needs and areas of support for quick intervention.

Twelve, Nigeria has been at the forefront of ensuring regional approaches to addressing issues that causes forced displacement through ECOWAS and Lake Chad Basin Commission. The Third Regional Protection Dialogue on the Lake Chad Basin held in 2020 focusing on conflict resolution and peace building.

Thirteen, to show the receptiveness of Government of Nigeria to refugees, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has signed the #CitiesWithRefugees Declaration, making Abuja as the 267th City of the World that is Refugee friendly.

The Government of Nigeria deserves kudos for these lofty achievements and showing greater commitment towards the implementation of the pledges on the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). No wonder, the country is regarded as a friendly refugees’ nation.

It is a matter of fact that the country cannot shoulder all these alone. Therefore, individuals and corporate organisations are hereby enjoined to partner with government to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers are given the required support to make life more meaningful to them. Their being refugees is not their making. According Warsan Shire “No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark’’. I call on all Nigerians to see the protection of refugees and asylum seekers as our obligation, as in the words of Dina Nayeri, “It is the obligation of every person born in a safer room to open the door when someone in danger knocks’’. Collectively, we can achieve anything.

Hajia Suleiman-Ibrahim is Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Abuja