16m Nigerians Displaced Last Year, Says Fed Govt

IDPs from Boko Haram insurgency

About 16 million people, many of them children, were displaced last year, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Permanent Secretary Dr. Jamila Shu’ara said yesterday.

Dr. Shu’ara, who gave the figure at an event marking this year’s World Refugee Day in Abuja, said it might triple this year, if urgent steps were not taken to stop insurgency.

The Nation report continues:

With about 47,000 persons displaced daily, she said: “The issue of refugees and displaced persons has become a major concern globally because of the negative effects on humanity.”

Dr. Shu’ara said her office was collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other stakeholders to provide succour for refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration: “Ordinary people living through extraordinary times”, she said it was appropriate for the country to encourage the younger generations to respect other people’s opinion and embrace peace and dialogue.

The Federal Commissioner for Refugees in the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, Hadiza Kangiwa Sani, said because of the security challenge in the Northeast, hundreds of Nigerians now prefer to seek asylum in neighbouring countries.

“We all have a moral obligation and responsibility to lend a helping hand to people, who want to flee as a result of conflict.

“The government is firmly committed to these principles while also seeking lasting and durable solutions to the challenge

“Domestically, we are committed to offering protection to genuine refugees and to also strengthen our international commitments and humanitarian traditions.

“The Federal Government appreciates the support and assistance of all United Nations (UN) agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and other development partners towards their prompts intervention, protection and assistance for persons of concern in Nigeria,” she said.

UNHCR Country Representative Mrs. Angele Dikongue Atangana said the agency is reinforcing its activities in support of IDPs in the Northeast through protection training, registration, profiling and conducting intention surveys for the return of IDPs.

She said the UNHCR would soon engage in psychosocial support for liberated IDPs.