Nigeria is hosting more than 6.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and over 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 42 countries, the Federal Government has disclosed, calling for increased international support to address the mounting humanitarian crisis.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, made the disclosure while presenting Nigeria’s statement at the 77th Session of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Doro, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Janet McDickson Noah, said Nigeria had also received more than 24,000 returnees, underscoring the scale of displacement and the growing demand for humanitarian assistance.
He called on the international community to strengthen burden-sharing arrangements and mobilise additional resources to support countries grappling with the consequences of forced displacement.
“As of September 2026, we host over 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 42 countries, and have received over 24,000 returnees, and over 6.7 million internally displaced persons,” the minister said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to protecting refugees and maintaining an effective asylum system, noting that the country continued to fulfil its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and other international instruments on refugee protection.
The minister also disclosed that Nigeria had recorded no case of refoulement in 2026, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the principle prohibiting the forced return of refugees to territories where their lives or freedom could be threatened.
According to him, Nigeria domesticated the Kampala Convention in 2026, providing an additional framework for strengthening the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons.
Doro said improved security conditions in some parts of the country were creating opportunities for voluntary returns, while the Federal Government, in collaboration with UNHCR, had established resettlement cities in seven locations to facilitate the gradual and voluntary closure of displacement camps.
He stressed that the initiative was designed to ensure that displaced persons could return to their communities or relocate in safety and dignity.
On the repatriation of Nigerian refugees in neighbouring countries, the minister said more than 7,000 Nigerians had voluntarily returned home in 2026 under tripartite agreements.
He added that approximately 14,000 Nigerians in Cameroon had registered for repatriation, while an agreement covering the voluntary return of 2,000 Nigerians in Niger was being finalised.
Doro expressed appreciation to the governments of Cameroon, Chad and Niger for hosting Nigerian refugees, noting that cooperation among the countries remained essential to the successful implementation of voluntary repatriation programmes.
The minister further disclosed that refugees in five states were benefiting from access to land, agricultural inputs and skills training to promote self-reliance and reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance.
He cited the successful integration of former Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees into Nigerian communities as an example of the potential for sustainable solutions to displacement.
Doro also said the government was working with UNHCR to expand access to information and essential services for refugees through a digital gateway designed to provide secure online access to relevant information.
He urged countries to recognise Nigeria’s Convention Travel Documents and ease visa restrictions for their holders, arguing that freedom of movement was critical to refugee integration and the pursuit of sustainable livelihoods.
The minister called on UNHCR to explore additional funding opportunities through regional and subregional financial institutions, including the African Development Bank and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
He maintained that sustained international cooperation was indispensable to addressing the needs of displaced populations, particularly at a time when humanitarian resources were becoming increasingly constrained.
While appreciating development partners and donors for their continued assistance, Doro warned that host countries could not shoulder the responsibility of refugee protection alone.
“But no host country can do this alone,” he said, urging the international community to expand resettlement opportunities and complementary pathways for refugees.
He said stronger partnerships, adequate funding and coordinated interventions remained critical to protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring that displacement did not permanently deprive affected people of their dignity, livelihoods and access to essential services.
