The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has praised Nigeria for its outstanding treatment of refugees and discussed plans to enhance support by transitioning towards sustainable development strategies.
This commendation was delivered by the UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Raouf Mazou, during a courtesy visit to Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House in Abuja.
In a statement released by the Vice President’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Mazou expressed gratitude to Nigeria for welcoming a large number of refugees, particularly from Cameroon. He lauded Nigeria’s efforts, stating, “Nigeria has been exemplary in its treatment of refugees. The host communities play a crucial role in ensuring these individuals are resettled.”
To further support Nigeria’s refugee programs, Mazou mentioned that the UNHCR plans to access facilities from the World Bank, which has a dedicated fund for refugees and host communities. This support is primarily aimed at aiding host communities.
Mazou emphasized the UNHCR’s shift from providing humanitarian assistance to focusing on development, with the goal of making refugees more self-reliant. This approach seeks to address long-standing dependency on aid and facilitate smoother reintegration when refugees return to their home countries.
“We are working with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation to tap into private sector resources for sustainable programming. We are moving away from humanitarian assistance to solutions,” Mazou explained.
Regarding voluntary repatriation, he noted that a significant number of Nigerian refugees in neighboring countries are returning, and the UNHCR is ensuring the voluntary return of those who wish to go home.
Vice President Shettima assured donor organizations and development partners of the Bola Tinubu administration’s unwavering support for initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of those displaced by conflict and natural disasters, both within and outside Nigeria’s borders.
Commending the UN system for its assistance to Nigeria over the years, Shettima remarked, “The UN system has been vital in addressing our challenges in the northeast and the nation as a whole.”
He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to collaborating with key stakeholders to address critical issues affecting the well-being of citizens and others affected by conflict and natural disasters in Nigeria and beyond.
“For Nigeria, we will continue to accommodate our African brothers displaced by conflict and natural disasters. Our partnership with the UN family will only grow stronger. We are open to new ideas for collaboration, especially those focusing on the sustainable resettlement of refugees. By embracing sustainable pathways, we can avoid donor fatigue,” the Vice President emphasized.
Shettima acknowledged the complex challenges in the Sahelian region, highlighting the intertwined issues of ecology, economy, and insecurity, further exacerbated by endemic poverty and the effects of climate change.
Despite the unique challenges facing the country, the Vice President assured that “the President is working tirelessly to get things right. We are making efforts to diversify the nation’s economic base and fine-tune the structure.”
UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, also commended Nigeria’s adherence to international conventions on refugees, saying, “Nigeria sets an important example for other countries on our continent, and I hope others will follow.”
Other attendees at the meeting included the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall; UNHCR Director, Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde; Senior External Engagement Coordinator, Bureau for West and Central Africa, Lara Scholtterbeck; UNHCR Representative to Nigeria, Arjun Jain, and Associate Protection Officer, Olubunmi Olaonipekun, among others.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has praised Nigeria for its outstanding treatment of refugees and discussed plans to enhance support by transitioning towards sustainable development strategies.
This commendation was delivered by the UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Raouf Mazou, during a courtesy visit to Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House in Abuja.
In a statement released by the Vice President’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Mazou expressed gratitude to Nigeria for welcoming a large number of refugees, particularly from Cameroon. He lauded Nigeria’s efforts, stating, “Nigeria has been exemplary in its treatment of refugees. The host communities play a crucial role in ensuring these individuals are resettled.”
To further support Nigeria’s refugee programs, Mazou mentioned that the UNHCR plans to access facilities from the World Bank, which has a dedicated fund for refugees and host communities. This support is primarily aimed at aiding host communities.
Mazou emphasized the UNHCR’s shift from providing humanitarian assistance to focusing on development, with the goal of making refugees more self-reliant. This approach seeks to address long-standing dependency on aid and facilitate smoother reintegration when refugees return to their home countries.
“We are working with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation to tap into private sector resources for sustainable programming. We are moving away from humanitarian assistance to solutions,” Mazou explained.
Regarding voluntary repatriation, he noted that a significant number of Nigerian refugees in neighboring countries are returning, and the UNHCR is ensuring the voluntary return of those who wish to go home.
Vice President Shettima assured donor organizations and development partners of the Bola Tinubu administration’s unwavering support for initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of those displaced by conflict and natural disasters, both within and outside Nigeria’s borders.
Commending the UN system for its assistance to Nigeria over the years, Shettima remarked, “The UN system has been vital in addressing our challenges in the northeast and the nation as a whole.”
He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to collaborating with key stakeholders to address critical issues affecting the well-being of citizens and others affected by conflict and natural disasters in Nigeria and beyond.
“For Nigeria, we will continue to accommodate our African brothers displaced by conflict and natural disasters. Our partnership with the UN family will only grow stronger. We are open to new ideas for collaboration, especially those focusing on the sustainable resettlement of refugees. By embracing sustainable pathways, we can avoid donor fatigue,” the Vice President emphasized.
Shettima acknowledged the complex challenges in the Sahelian region, highlighting the intertwined issues of ecology, economy, and insecurity, further exacerbated by endemic poverty and the effects of climate change.
Despite the unique challenges facing the country, the Vice President assured that “the President is working tirelessly to get things right. We are making efforts to diversify the nation’s economic base and fine-tune the structure.”
UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, also commended Nigeria’s adherence to international conventions on refugees, saying, “Nigeria sets an important example for other countries on our continent, and I hope others will follow.”
Other attendees at the meeting included the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall; UNHCR Director, Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde; Senior External Engagement Coordinator, Bureau for West and Central Africa, Lara Scholtterbeck; UNHCR Representative to Nigeria, Arjun Jain, and Associate Protection Officer, Olubunmi Olaonipekun, among others.
