Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting refugees and asylum seekers, calling for increased international support to help countries hosting displaced populations amid rising humanitarian needs and shrinking resources.
Key Highlights
- Nigeria hosts over 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 42 countries and over 6.7 million IDPs.
- No case of refoulement recorded in Nigeria in 2026, says Minister Bernard Doro.
- Over 7,000 Nigerian refugees returned home this year; 14,000 in Cameroon registered for return.
- IDP resettlement cities established in seven locations.
- Doro urges countries to recognise Nigeria’s Convention Travel Documents.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, made the call while delivering Nigeria’s statement at the 77th Session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Programme in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meeting, which began on October 12, will run until October 16, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction on Tuesday, Doro said Nigeria currently hosts more than 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 42 countries, alongside over 6.7 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He also disclosed that Nigeria has received more than 24,000 returnees as of September 2026.
No Refoulement In 2026
The minister reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they face persecution or serious threats to their safety.
He said no case of refoulement has been recorded in Nigeria in 2026, adding that the country’s asylum system remains guided by fairness and efficiency under the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2022.
The minister said the 1951 Refugee Convention remains relevant 75 years after its adoption, particularly as global displacement continues to rise against the backdrop of declining humanitarian resources.
He disclosed that Nigeria domesticated the Kampala Convention in 2026, with states beginning to follow suit, while the country’s commitments on statelessness and the Global Compact remained on course.
Returns And Resettlement
Doro further said improved security conditions in some areas were creating opportunities for displaced persons to return home.
He noted that the federal government, in partnership with UNHCR, has advanced the digital gateway initiative to provide refugees with secure online access to information.
He added that resettlement cities for Internally Displaced Persons have been established in seven locations to support the gradual and voluntary closure of displacement camps while ensuring the safety and dignity of affected communities.
On voluntary repatriation, the minister disclosed that more than 7,000 Nigerian refugees had returned home this year under tripartite agreements, while another 14,000 Nigerians in Cameroon had registered for voluntary return.
He said an agreement covering the return of 2,000 Nigerians in Niger is being finalised.
Doro expressed appreciation to Cameroon, Chad and Niger for hosting Nigerian refugees and supporting efforts towards their eventual return.
Read also:
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Documentation And Inclusion
The minister urged countries to recognise Nigeria’s Convention Travel Documents and facilitate visa access for their holders.
He said displaced persons and host communities were being enrolled in the national identity system to improve access to banking, education and social services.
Refugees, he added, were being included in state action plans and social registers, while 10 mobile documentation buses would soon be deployed to reach people in remote communities.
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