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IOM Supports the Nigerian Government with Implementing the Global Compact for Migration

A three day national consultation for the national voluntary review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) held in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo: IOM

Lagos – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in close collaboration with the United Nations (UN) Network on Migration and other intergovernmental organizations (INGOs) working in the field of migration organized a three-day (11-13 April) national consultation for the national voluntary review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM).

The Global Compact for Migration is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, under the auspices of the UN, covering all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. It was adopted based on the need for collective commitment to improving cooperation on international migration as recommended by the 2016 New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants at an Intergovernmental Conference held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 10 December 2018, and subsequently endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on 19 December 2018 (A/RES/73/195).

“Nigeria not only participated actively in the process and adoption of this document but also has demonstrated its commitment to the implementation by being the first country to start off the implementation after its adoption and this has earned Nigeria a position among the GCM champion countries,” said Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The ongoing Migration Review Forum aims to assess the progress made at local, national, regional, and global level in implementing the Compact in the framework of the UN through a state-led approach and with the participation of 95 attendees from government ministries, agencies, civil society organizations, INGOs and UN agencies in Nigeria.

“Our presence here is a clear indication of the commitment of the Nigerian Government towards the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration” said Frantz Celestin, IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission. “As champion and priority country, Nigeria is held at even higher standards for its commitment in implementing the GCM given the country’s dynamic and complex development landscape, ” he added.

This consultative meeting is intended to update all national migration stakeholders on the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF)’s process and frameworks and develop a position paper as part of the IMRF preparations while building momentum ahead of the meeting in New York on 17-20 May 2022.

“I am pleased that the adoption and institutionalization of the GCM and its 23 goals resulted in the creation of a National Action Plan for GCM implementation”, said Imaan Suleiman- Ibrahim the Federal Commissioner for National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.

GCM is a non-binding document that respects states’ sovereign right to determine who enters and stays in their territory and demonstrates commitment to international cooperation on migration. It presents an opportunity to improve the governance of migration, to address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and to strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.

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For more information, please contact Stylia Kampani at IOM Nigeria, Tel: +234 906 273 9168, Email: skampani@iom.int

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