NAN-H-100
Policy
By Lizzy Okoji
Abuja, Feb. 9, 2017 (NAN) Hajiya Sadia Umar-Farouq, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), has called for the adoption and implementation of the national policy on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
She made the call on Thursday in Abuja during a stakeholders meeting to review the national policy on IDPs and its domestication.
She noted that once the policy, also known as the `Kampala Convention,’ was adopted and passed into law, it would ensure coherent framework for addressing the plights of the IDPs.
She explained that the adoption and passage of the policy into law would lead to the protection of the rights of IDPs and ensure effective and durable solution to their plight.
Umar-Farouq said, “the process for the adoption of the national policy began in 2012; here we are five years later, still without a national policy.
“We have called this meeting so that we can rub minds and explore all possible ways to get the national policy on IDPs adopted and passed into law.
“I don’t know why it has been this slow but I guess it is better late than never.
“Today we are going to review the policy and hope it will be adopted by the executive very soon.
“The policy hopes to address the plights of the IDPs, specifically their rights for protection and general principles of caring for the IDPs.
“We are going to push it, talk to all the relevant authorities involved and we are very optimistic that this time around, it is going to be adopted.’’
The Commissioner noted that providing assistance and protection to IDPs had been an uphill battle for government, Non-governmental Organisations, humanitarian actors and kind hearted Nigerians.
She explained that lack of coherent framework had impeded the ability to assist displaced persons as humanitarian efforts had remained largely insufficient in the face of massive challenges.
Also speaking, Mrs Bridget Mukanga-Eno, Deputy Representative, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), said that the humanitarian crises in the North- East required strong, organised and coordinated response.
She said these could only be achieved with the domestication of the national policy on IDPs (Kampala convention) which provided the guidelines of protecting and addressing the plights of the displaced persons.
Mukanga-Eno said that Nigerian government had taken a positive step by ratifying the Kampala Convention which was the starting point, hence the need for its domestication and full implementation
“UNHCR has been supporting and pushing for the domestication of the policy through so many advocacy programmes with the National Assembly, NCFRMI, National Institute for Legislative Studies, Civil Societies, amongst others.
`These advocacy visits led to the establishment of the House Committee on IDPs,’’ she said.
In his contribution, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, noted that adopting the national policy on IDPs was very critical to national security.
Represented by the Chief of Civil Military, Mr Peter Bojie, Buratai said the review of the policy and with possible amendments would be a positive measure toward ensuring the safety of displaced persons.
Nigeria ratified the Kampala Convention on April 17, 2012 when it hosted the convention, but five years after ratifying the convention, it was yet to be passed into law, domesticated and implemented. (NAN)
LIZ/OIF/AEA
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(Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Archibong Asuquo)