Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that Nigeria will continue to offer refuge to Africans displaced by conflict and natural disasters, despite the country’s challenges.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
He made this statement while meeting with a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the State House.
Shettima assured the delegation that President Bola Tinubu supports initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of displaced persons within Africa.
“I know how vital the UN system is. You have assisted us tremendously in addressing our challenges in the north-east and the nation as a whole,” the vice-president said.
“For Nigeria, we will continue to accommodate our brother Africans displaced by conflict and natural disasters. I want to assure you that our partnership with the UN family will only be strengthened.
“We are open to new ideas for collaboration, especially the UN’s emphasis on sustainable resettlement of refugees.
“By embracing sustainable pathways for resettling people, we can avoid donor fatigue.”
In response, Raouf Mazou, the UNHCR assistant high commissioner for operations, applauded Nigeria for its treatment of refugees.
“The World Bank has a facility for refugees and host communities, and we would be accessing these facilities to see how we can bring additional support primarily to help the host communities,” Mazou said.
“We are now focusing on a shift primarily from providing humanitarian assistance to development. We are making sure that people become more self-reliant as much as possible.
“We are working with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation to tap into the resources of the private sector for this sustainable programming.”
