By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed, has called for stronger global solidarity, increased inclusion, and sustainable solutions for refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Persecondnews correspondent reports that the “1951 Refugee Convention at 75: Dialogue on Protection, Solidarity and Solutions” was organised to commemorate World Refugee Day 2026 in Abuja on Monday.
Ahmed said the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention offers an opportunity to reflect on the global commitment to protect people forced to flee conflicts, persecution, and humanitarian crises.
“Seventy-five years ago, the world looked at the wreckage of wars and made a promise, and never again would we turn our backs on the displaced. That promise gave us the 1951 Refugee Convention, the cornerstone of refugee protection,” he said.
He said this year’s theme, “Until Everyone Is Safe,” was not merely a slogan but a commitment that Nigeria, as one of Africa’s largest host nations, continues to uphold through humanitarian and protection efforts.
Ahmed explained that displacement often comes with the loss of homes, identity, and certainty, but noted that safety can only be achieved through collective responsibility and international cooperation.
“Refugees and IDPs should not be defined by displacement. You are not a burden,” he noted.
Ahmed said Nigeria will continue to uphold its humanitarian commitments through partnerships involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, UNHCR, ECOWAS, diplomatic missions, and other humanitarian actors.
He noted that the Commission was implementing the National Action Plan on Durable Solutions, increasing inclusion in the National Health Insurance Authority and National Social Register, and strengthening collaboration with states hosting refugees and IDPs.
The Commissioner called on the international community, regional bodies, and the private sector to expand responsibility-sharing and economic opportunities for displaced persons.
“Let the next 75 years be about shifting from aid to agency, from camps to communities, and from waiting to working,” Ahmed said.
He urged diplomatic partners to sustain responsibility-sharing efforts, while calling on ECOWAS and the African Union to strengthen regional integration as a tool against forced displacement.
The Commissioner also appealed to the private sector to employ refugees and support refugee-owned businesses, noting that safety grows when livelihoods grow.
“To every refugee, asylum seeker, and IDP, we see your courage and resilience. We honour your struggle, and we stand with you because our work is not done until everyone is safe.”
He lauded humanitarian partners, government institutions, and Nigerians whose tradition of hospitality continues to transform strangers into neighbours.