Director-general (DG), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Aliyu Tijani-Ahmed, said the Commission is decentralizing not fragmenting national migration policy in Nigeria.
Tijani-Ahmed stated this in his keynote address at the inauguration of the South East Migration Dialogue 2026 in Umuahia, Abia State capital, describing the initiative as crucial to the success of the policy.
The DG explained that the forum provided for the first time, a regional platform for stakeholders from the five South East states to examine migration issues affecting the region and to develop practical solutions.
His words, “The zone has unique migration experiences in internal and international mobility, a strong diaspora presence, irregular migration, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and return migration, hence the need for the dialogue.”
While thanking the state governor, Alex Otti for hosting the dialogue, he described the gesture as Otti’s commitment to responsible migration, protection of vulnerable persons, and sustainable reintegration of returning migrants.
Declaring the event, the governor emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, and other stakeholders to promote safe and regular migration across the country.
Represented by his deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, he said migration in the country should be orderly and stressed the need for a result-oriented outcome at the end of the dialogue.
According to him, “The message for us is clear, migration must be orderly, lawful, protected and accompanied by social cohesion, and opportunities for host communities.
”This should not remain resolutions on paper. We should identify who will act by when, with what resources and against what measurable indicators.”
Otti urged the participants to pursue five practical outcomes including regional framework, building digital skills, promotion of save migration, diaspora development and protection and reintegration of returnees as the state is doing.
He lauded organisers of the dialogue for convening it “when migration has become not merely a matter of human mobility, but a strategic question of human capital, economic development, national security, and international opportunity.”
Other speakers were the representative of the chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration, Ukamaka Anyamaechi, the Country director, International Returns and Reintegration Assistance, Roland Nwoha, and National coordinator, Civil Society Network on Migration and Development, Emeka Obiezu
They highlighted the zone’s migration history and diaspora contributions, stressing the need for partnerships to provide accurate information, protect migrants, expand skills and employment opportunities, and support returnees’ reintegration.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the South East Coordinator of the Civil Society Network on Migration and Development Jeto Nwadi, while disclosing that the theme is “Partnership for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration” stressed the need for the event
He noted that migration was not simply the movement of people but an issue closely connected to livelihoods, development, labour mobility, family welfare and reunification, climate change, human rights and the aspirations of young and old people.
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