From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria currently houses 138,154 refugees and asylum seekers across 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijani Ahmed, stated this while marking the 2025 World Refugee Day in Abuja, with the theme: “Solidarity with Refugees: A Call to Action for Inclusion.”
He disclosed that out of the 138,154 refugees and asylum seekers, 32,746 are awaiting registration. Ahmed explained that displaced persons originated from 48 countries, with six nationalities—Cameroon, Niger, Syria, Central African Republic, and Sudan—making up 86%.
“We have 16,215 returnees and 1,396 spontaneous returnees, while the IDPs we have in camps are 3,576,100,” he said.
Ahmed further stated that when including IDPs living outside camps within host communities, the total number of internally displaced persons rises to no fewer than 6.2 million, many of whom are innocent women and children.
He said: “So, as we celebrate World Refugee Day, we recognise the contributions refugees have made to our communities. It is an invitation to honour refugees’ voices, strengthen community ties, and amplify the need for inclusion in national systems, such as social protection and local development frameworks.”
He explained that the objective of World Refugee Day is to celebrate the resilience of refugees and to reiterate the need for countries to support millions of families who have lost their homes as a result of war.
He said: “It is a day to recognise the challenges and hardship that refugees face but honour their courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles and, above all, we celebrate their many valuable contributions to nation building. As the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, together with our partners, we are proud to have played a crucial role in protecting and assisting refugees in Nigeria.”
Also, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, called for collective efforts among countries toward protecting displaced persons in society. Represented by Bernadette Muteshi, Grandi stressed the need for supporting host countries and communities by sharing the responsibility of protecting refugees.
“We must stand with refugees to keep alive their hopes of a better future. This World Refugee Day and every day, governments, institutions, companies, and individuals can prove that by helping those caught up in senseless conflicts, we move towards greater stability, humanity, and justice for us all. If we do so, I can promise you that refugees will bring all their courage, spirit, and ingenuity to the task of creating a better and brighter tomorrow,” he said.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, in his remarks, described World Refugee Day as a “call to action” for refugees to be protected from violent conflicts and other humanitarian disasters. Yilwatda, represented by the Director of Humanitarian in the ministry, Jummai, reiterated the government’s commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees to ensure not just protection but opportunity, safety, and belonging.
He said: “They are our neighbours, and we must let no borders define our humanity. As crises grow more complex, from violent conflicts to climate displacement, so too must our response grow more courageous. As the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, our vision is to build a nation where no displaced person is left behind, where every refugee can rise, rebuild, and thrive.”