Nigeria - The Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with IOM, organized a two-day conference May 27–28 in Abuja focusing on Nigeria’s recently adopted National Migration Policy.

The event was part of “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria”, a project under the National 10th European Development Fund funded by the European Union and implemented by IOM.

Hosted by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the conference included participants from ministries, departments and agencies of the Nigerian government, representatives of civil society organizations, international organizations, the diplomatic community and members of academic societies.

According to Hadiza Kangiwa, Commissioner for NCFRMI, “The conference aimed to improve overall migration management in Nigeria. It contributed to the knowledge base on migration and increased understanding of the factors shaping contemporary migration trends in Nigeria and within the region.

“By forging the linkage between empirical analysis and current migration theory, this conference supports the implementation of the national policy on migration and its plan of action. It will also contribute to the wider social discussion on migration and development in Nigeria,” she added.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the strong links between migration and national development, as migration can be beneficial to both sending and receiving countries. For Nigeria, a major country of origin, transit and destination in terms of global migration, the potential development benefits to be reaped from migration are immense. The availability of up-to-date data on migration is another essential part of migration governance.

For further information, please contact Lily Sanya at IOM Nigeria, Tel: +234 909 707 0239, Email: lsanya@iom.int.