Doro urges global burden-sharing, expanded resettlement opportunities, As Nigeria Hosts Over 142,000 Refugees
Oru Leonard
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to refugee protection and the principle of non-refoulement, calling for increased international support to help host countries manage the growing challenges of displacement.
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) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The session, which commenced on October 12, will end on October 16, 2026.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Janet McDickson Noah, Doro said Nigeria currently hosts more than 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 42 countries.
He added that the country had received over 24,000 returnees and was also accommodating more than 6.7 million internally displaced persons.
The minister reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to protecting refugees, maintaining an effective asylum system and ensuring that individuals fleeing persecution are not forcibly returned to places where their lives or freedom could be threatened.
He noted that Nigeria’s asylum system operates under the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2022.
Doro said no case of refoulement had been recorded in Nigeria in 2026, adding that the country’s commitments on statelessness and the Global Compact on Refugees remained on course.
He also announced that Nigeria domesticated the Kampala Convention in 2026, with states beginning to follow suit.
Congratulating Dr Barham Salih on his assumption of office as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the minister assured him of Nigeria’s full support.
He commended the High Commissioner and his team for their comprehensive report on the operational and policy priorities of the UNHCR, while also acknowledging the contributions of outgoing High Commissioner Filippo Grandi during his decade of leadership.
Reflecting on the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, Doro said the international legal framework remained essential amid record levels of displacement and declining humanitarian resources.
He stressed that the scale of the global displacement crisis required stronger international cooperation and equitable sharing of responsibilities between countries.
The minister disclosed that improved security conditions in parts of Nigeria were creating opportunities for displaced persons to return voluntarily.
He said the Federal Government, working with the UNHCR, had advanced the Digital Gateway initiative to provide refugees with secure online access to information.
According to him, Resettlement Cities for internally displaced persons have also been established in seven locations to support the gradual and voluntary closure of camps while ensuring that displaced persons return to safety and dignity.
On voluntary repatriation, Doro revealed that more than 7,000 Nigerian refugees had returned home under Tripartite Agreements in 2026, while another 14,000 Nigerians in Cameroon had registered for voluntary return.
He added that an agreement covering the return of 2,000 Nigerians from Niger was being finalised.
The minister expressed appreciation to Cameroon, Chad and Niger for hosting Nigerian refugees and providing them with protection.
On local integration, Doro said former Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees had successfully integrated into Nigerian communities, with some establishing and managing businesses.
He explained that refugees in five states were receiving land, agricultural inputs and vocational training to improve their livelihoods and reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance.
He further disclosed that the newly established Public-Private Partnership Department of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons was working to promote sustainable solutions for displaced populations.
The minister urged countries to recognise Nigeria’s Convention Travel Documents and facilitate visa issuance for their holders to improve refugees’ access to international travel and opportunities.
He said displaced persons and host communities were also being enrolled in Nigeria’s national identity system to facilitate access to banking, education and other essential social services.
According to him, refugees are being incorporated into state action plans and social registers, while 10 mobile documentation buses are expected to extend registration services to people living in remote communities.
Doro said Nigeria reaffirmed its five pledges made in 2023 in December 2025, demonstrating the government’s continued commitment to refugee protection and durable solutions.
However, he warned that host countries could not shoulder the responsibility of protecting refugees alone.
“No host country can do this alone,” the minister said, calling for greater burden- and responsibility-sharing, including expanded resettlement opportunities and complementary pathways for refugees.
He also urged the UNHCR to explore opportunities to increase funding through partnerships with regional and sub-regional financial institutions, including the African Development Bank and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
Doro expressed gratitude to international donors for their continued support despite the difficult global funding environment.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the UNHCR and working with the international community to address the humanitarian challenges facing refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities.
