NHRC Advocates For Better Refugee Protection

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government and other duty bearers to increase their efforts to protect and support refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, stateless people, and internally displaced people so that they can rebuild their lives with dignity.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, stated this in Abuja on the occasion of 2024 World Refugees Day, which is observed on June 20th, noting that refugees and other people living in similar conditions deserve to be protected, bearing in mind that they are usually not the architects of their plights, but rather victims of circumstances such as insurgency, natural disasters, harsh economic conditions, and human rights violations.

He stated that the 2024 celebration’s theme, “Solidity with Refugees,” serves as a reminder that everyone requires a home where their basic survival needs are met, rather than a hostile environment that exposes them to various forms of human rights violations.

According to him, it is critical to celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes or countries against their will due to conflicts or persecution, and it is necessary to devise solutions to resettle them and provide them with a better living.
He went on to say that Nigeria has its fair share of people who are concerned about communal clashes, banditry, farmer and herder clashes, Boko Haram, and other issues.

He stated that this has impacted their rights to health care, education, employment, human dignity, housing, land, and property, among other things.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR), World Refugee Day is a day to highlight refugees’ rights and dreams, as well as to mobilise political will and resources to help refugees enjoy a new lease on life.

As of May 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported 71,728 refugees in Nigeria, with 27,725 refugee returnees, indicating that the Nigerian government must focus its attention on the plight of refugees in order to reduce the number of refugees to a minimum.

Ojukwu also used the occasion to reaffirm the Commission’s commitment to advocating for refugees’ rights and to urge the government and stakeholders to do more to protect refugees and ensure their safe return to their communities, as outlined in the Refugee Convention and Human Rights Treaties.