The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has commended Nigeria’s significant progress in migration governance and disaster preparedness, even as Vice President Kashim Shettima called for stronger partnerships to address the complex humanitarian challenges facing crisis-affected regions across the country.
During a courtesy visit by an IOM delegation led by its Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Sharon Dimanche, at the Presidential Villa on Friday, the Vice President emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to tackle the interconnected issues of climate change and migration, which he described as critical to Nigeria’s economic stability.
Reflecting on his long-standing collaboration with the IOM dating back to his tenure as Borno State Governor, Shettima praised the organization’s impactful interventions while stressing the need for more pragmatic and inclusive approaches. “I urge you to support us in the North Central region so we can develop workable solutions that foster unity and progress,” he said.
The Vice President highlighted the deep-rooted links between poverty, environmental degradation, and insecurity, noting that sub-Saharan Africa’s ecological and economic challenges are deeply intertwined. “You cannot separate migration challenges from climate-induced effects. Even the crises in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central are directly connected to poverty and violence,” he explained.
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., Shettima made a passionate appeal for unity: “We must either learn to live together as brothers, or we are going to die together as fools. We are essentially one people with a common destiny, united by our common challenges. Our fight should be against poverty, illiteracy, and gender disempowerment, not against each other.” He specifically called for increased IOM support for gender empowerment and land reclamation in areas affected by deforestation and displacement.
In her response, IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission Sharon Dimanche applauded Nigeria’s achievements in migration management and disaster readiness, particularly noting the country’s diversity as both a challenge and opportunity for targeted interventions. “Since my arrival in Nigeria, I’ve been impressed by the remarkable differences across states – it’s like one Africa wrapped into one country,” she observed.
Dimanche specifically commended Nigeria’s launch of the State Action Plan on Floods and the Framework for Anticipatory Action, describing them as exemplary initiatives. She reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s durable solutions agenda through data provision, shelter support, climate resilience programs, and youth empowerment.
“As I assume office, we seek the government’s guidance on priority areas. We’re particularly interested in establishing a special initiative to co-work with your office and mobilize resources for sustainable solutions in migration, youth empowerment, and climate resilience,” Dimanche proposed, outlining the organization’s forward-looking engagement strategy with Nigeria.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing commitment to strengthened collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s complex migration and climate-related challenges, with the IOM pledging to build on Nigeria’s existing progress in these critical areas.
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