FG, IOM Strengthen Ties to Curb Irregular Migration, Harness Diaspora Potential.
By Raymond Enoch
The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged deeper cooperation with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to address the challenges of irregular migration, while reaffirming its commitment to leveraging the potential of Nigerians in the diaspora as a vital national asset.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known during a courtesy visit by IOM’s Deputy Director-General (Operations), Ms. Ugochi Florence Daniels, at Tafawa Balewa House, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu attributed the rising wave of illegal migration to Nigeria’s demographic structure, pointing out that over 70 percent of the population is under the age of 40 — many of whom face unemployment and seek opportunities abroad.
“Demography is both our challenge and our strength. We must channel our youthful population into productive ventures at home and engage the diaspora in building the Nigeria we desire,” she said.
She emphasised that the diaspora is one of the key pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foreign policy agenda, which is anchored on the “4-Ds” — Democracy, Demography, Diaspora, and Development. According to her, over 17 million Nigerians in the diaspora contribute significantly to the nation’s development and economy.
“Our diaspora is a formidable force. Their remittances, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit are pivotal in shaping the economy. That is why citizen diplomacy and diaspora engagement are top priorities,” the Minister stated.
While commending the IOM for its longstanding partnership with Nigeria, Odumegwu-Ojukwu underscored the need to promote positive migration narratives and continue countering the “myth of greener pastures,” which she said often misleads young Nigerians into taking dangerous and irregular migration routes.
She also praised IOM’s humanitarian interventions, particularly its swift response to recent flooding in Niger State. The Organisation deployed a rapid response team to assess damage and provide emergency shelter kits and non-food items to over 1,000 displaced families.
Acknowledging the financial difficulties currently facing IOM, the Minister called for better alignment of migration programmes with Nigeria’s national priorities and encouraged the agency to seek innovative funding avenues.
“Nigeria remains committed to meeting its financial obligations to IOM. However, we urge the Organisation to harmonise its work with local ministries, agencies, and international partners while tapping into support from non-traditional donors,” she advised.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further expressed Nigeria’s willingness to host United Nations agencies and international organisations relocating from Geneva or New York, in line with the UN80 Reform Initiative.
She also highlighted the ongoing European Union-funded project titled “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria” (PBMM), implemented by IOM. The programme supports the government in areas such as border and immigration management, migration data systems, labour mobility, and diaspora mobilisation.
In her remarks, Ms. Ugochi Florence Daniels assured the Minister of IOM’s unwavering commitment to supporting Nigeria’s migration management efforts.
She revealed that Nigeria ranks first globally in terms of returns facilitated by the IOM, with over 70,000 irregular migrants brought back to the country and more than 27,000 successfully reintegrated through the Organisation’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme (AVRR).
“Our work in Nigeria is broad, impactful, and ongoing. We are fully dedicated to promoting safe, humane, and orderly migration in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” Daniels said.
“We deeply value our collaboration with Nigeria and count on your continued support to make migration work for everyone,” she added.
