The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, has described the Federal Executive Council’s adoption of Nigeria’s Revised National Migration Policy as a major step forward.

He said the policy would strengthen migrant protection, support the reintegration of returning Nigerians and help harness migration for national development.

The policy was approved at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday after extensive consultations with government institutions, state governments, civil society organisations, academia and development partners. Doro said it would provide a stronger national framework for turning Nigeria’s international migration commitments into coordinated action.

According to the minister, the revised policy is expected to expand opportunities for safe and regular migration, improve support for returnees, enhance migration and diaspora data, and maximise the developmental benefits of migration.

He noted that the approval came after Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 International Migration Review Forum at the United Nations in New York.

Doro stressed that migration should not become a journey into vulnerability. He said the government’s responsibility is to build systems that allow Nigerians to migrate safely, protect those who move, support those who return, and use migration as a force for national development.

The Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Dr Tijani Ahmed, welcomed the decision, describing it as the result of years of technical work and collaboration.

The focus now shifts from policy formulation to implementation, monitoring and localisation across federal, state and local levels.