By Chimezie Godfrey
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration while strengthening diaspora partnerships as part of broader efforts to drive national development and economic inclusion.
The position was presented by the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, at the ongoing International Migration Review Forum 2026 taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Janet McDickson Noah, the Minister stated that Nigeria remains committed to advancing migration systems that are people-centred, development-driven, and capable of addressing contemporary migration realities.
According to the statement, Dr. Doro is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the forum and is expected to deliver Nigeria’s official statement on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The statement disclosed that the Nigerian delegation includes officials from the Nigeria Immigration Service, National Population Commission, National Human Rights Commission, and the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
According to Noah, the participation of the agencies reflects Nigeria’s whole-of-government approach to migration governance and institutional coordination.
Serving as Co-Chair of Roundtable 3 on Diaspora Engagement at the forum, the Minister stressed the need for countries to adopt integrated and development-oriented migration systems capable of delivering measurable outcomes.
Dr. Doro noted that migration governance must move beyond fragmented interventions and instead prioritise stronger partnerships, coordination, and data-driven systems.
According to the statement, the Minister highlighted ongoing Nigerian initiatives such as the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit and diaspora-focused financial instruments aimed at promoting investment, innovation, and skills transfer among Nigerians living abroad.
The Minister reportedly explained that Nigeria now views diaspora communities as strategic development partners rather than merely beneficiaries of protection frameworks.
The statement further disclosed that discussions at the forum focused on improving migrant access to healthcare and education, strengthening financial inclusion and remittance systems, advancing social protection portability, and promoting inclusion and human rights within migration governance frameworks.
According to Noah, the Minister said these priorities align with Nigeria’s broader reforms connecting migration governance with humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction strategies.
Dr. Doro also called for stronger international cooperation and practical implementation mechanisms capable of translating policy commitments into measurable development outcomes.
“This roundtable provides an opportunity to collectively strengthen preventive protection mechanisms, improve coordination, and identify scalable solutions that support a more proactive and inclusive migration system,” the Minister stated.
He further encouraged participating countries, development partners, and civil society organisations to share innovative models capable of addressing emerging migration realities.
The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening institutional coordination and global partnerships under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
The International Migration Review Forum 2026, which runs from May 5 to May 8, serves as the principal global platform for reviewing progress on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
Nigeria Pushes Coordinated Migration Governance at UN Forum in New York
