Chief of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Nigeria, Ms. Sharon Dimanche has called for collective action to advance the validation of the revised National Migration Policy (NMP) 2025.
She made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level meeting focused on validating the revised NMP and its integrated implementation plan.
According to Dimanche, the policy represents a call to action for stronger collaboration and a whole-of-society approach to improve migration governance and ensure no migrant is left behind.
“This milestone is a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to shaping an inclusive, evidence-based migration governance system aligned with global best practices.
“Today’s gathering is not just the culmination of a technical process, but the result of months of hard work by countless stakeholders,” she said.
Dimanche added that the revised NMP and its implementation plan built on past achievements and aligneed with key international frameworks, including the Global Compact for Migration.
She said the updated policy addressed issues such as climate-related displacement, migration governance, and diaspora engagement.
Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, represented by Dr Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State in the ministry, also stressed the importance of the revised policy.
“Much of the migration we are witnessing is not just driven by monetary reasons but by the lack of systems that allow individuals to realise their full potential,” he said.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu had prioritised addressing the trend, citing the development of a national health workforce policy as an example of efforts to retain talent in the country.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, lauded the NMP and its implementation plan as a critical milestone, reflecting collective stakeholder effort.
“Migration is not merely about movement; it is about rights, security, dignity, and opportunity.
“It must be managed with robust, forward-looking frameworks,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Tijani Ahmed, Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), along with other stakeholders, emphasised the need for coherent migration governance.
The revised policy aims to strengthen institutional coordination, integrate international best practices, and reinforce national ownership in managing migration.
The validation meeting followed a one-day Technical Working Group session attended by more than 20 representatives from key ministries, departments, agencies, civil society, and the UN Network on Migration
