The federal government is in discussions to safely return 15,000 stranded Nigerians from Cameroon, Niger, Chad, and other countries. Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), announced this during a media briefing in Abuja.

Ahmed noted that approximately six million people are displaced within Nigeria, and thousands more are living as refugees abroad. He stated, "We have 15,000 Nigerians who want to return to the country voluntarily, and we also have not less than 100,000 foreigners living in this country as refugees. All these are the responsibilities of the commission, to give them support."

Ahmed expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the support provided to the commission and the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry. Nigeria is set to host global leaders to discuss migration issues affecting countries in the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development, also known as the Rabat Process.

The meeting, co-chaired by Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain, will focus on youth, education, and innovation. Scheduled for May 13th to 14th, 2025, the discussions aim to guide policy direction, enhance cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination, and explore inclusive policies to reshape migration positively.

Over 100 delegates from 57 member countries of the inter-regional forum for Europe and Africa are expected to attend the high-level meeting, themed ‘Youth, Innovation and Education: Driving the Future of Migration.’

Ahmed highlighted the demographic surge in Africa, with over 75% of the world’s under-35 population residing on the continent. He added that in Nigeria and across West Africa, young people's aspirations are increasingly linked to mobility, driven by the desire for quality education, decent work, and better living conditions, encapsulated in the ‘Japa’ phenomenon.