The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro (l)
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, has disclosed that more than 7,000 Nigerian refugees voluntarily returned home from neighbouring countries in 2026 under Tripartite Agreements.
Doro made this known while delivering Nigeria’s national statement at the 77th Session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, Switzerland, holding from October 12 to 16, 2026.
According to the Minister, another 14,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon have registered their intention to return home, while an agreement covering the return of 2,000 Nigerians from Niger is being finalised.
“Over 7,000 Nigerian refugees voluntarily return home this year. The progress to improved security conditions in parts of the country has created opportunities for refugees to return voluntarily.
“Improved security conditions in parts of the country are creating opportunities for voluntary return,” Doro said.
He added that Resettlement Cities established in seven locations were supporting the phased closure of displacement camps under conditions of safety and dignity.
The Minister acknowledged the continued hospitality of Cameroon, Chad and Niger in providing refuge to Nigerians displaced by insecurity and other humanitarian challenges.
He also disclosed that Nigeria had received more than 24,000 returnees as of September 2026 and was managing a population of over 6.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Doro said Nigeria currently hosts more than 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 42 countries, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to international refugee protection obligations.
He noted that the country maintained its asylum system under the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) Act of 2022.
The Minister further stated that no case of refoulement had been recorded in Nigeria in 2026, reaffirming the country’s commitment to protecting people fleeing persecution from being returned to places where their lives or freedom could be threatened.
Beyond voluntary return, Doro highlighted efforts to promote self-reliance and economic inclusion among refugees.
He explained that refugees in five states were benefiting from access to land, agricultural inputs and skills training, while the NCFRMI’s newly established Public-Private Partnership Department was supporting efforts to expand livelihood opportunities.
The minister also cited the successful local integration of former Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees, some of whom had established businesses and become economically active members of their host communities.
On access to essential services, he said displaced persons and host communities were being enrolled in Nigeria’s national identity system to facilitate access to banking, education and social services.
He added that refugees were being incorporated into state action plans and social registers, while 10 mobile documentation buses were expected to extend identity services to underserved and remote communities.
Doro also highlighted the development of a Digital Gateway in collaboration with UNHCR to provide refugees with secure online access to information.
Addressing the growing pressure on humanitarian financing, the Minister called for stronger international responsibility-sharing and innovative financing arrangements to address the needs of refugees and displaced persons.
“The responsibility for addressing displacement cannot rest on host countries alone, particularly at a time of increasing humanitarian needs and declining international resources,” he said.
He urged UNHCR to explore partnerships with regional and subregional financial institutions, including the African Development Bank and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, to mobilise additional resources for refugee protection and durable solutions.
Doro also called on the international community to expand resettlement opportunities and complementary pathways for refugees.
He recalled Nigeria’s reaffirmation, in December 2025, of its five pledges made under the Global Compact on Refugees in 2023.
He also highlighted the domestication of the Kampala Convention in 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen protection for internally displaced persons.
The Minister further urged countries to recognise Nigeria’s Convention Travel Documents and facilitate visa access for their holders in accordance with applicable international obligations.
Congratulating the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Dr. Barham Salih, on his assumption of office, Doro reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to continued cooperation with UNHCR and international partners.
He also acknowledged the contributions of former High Commissioner Filippo Grandi and expressed appreciation to donor countries and organisations supporting refugee protection in Nigeria.
The Minister stressed that lasting solutions to displacement must combine immediate humanitarian protection with practical opportunities for voluntary return, local integration, access to essential services and economic self-reliance.