•Tijani Aliyu Ahmed and Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu
The Nigerian Army has expressed readiness to assist agencies to address the challenges of refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons in the country.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, gave the assurance yesterday when he received the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Dr Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, in his office.
According to a statement by the Army’s spokesperson, Colonel Apollonia Anele, General Shaibu emphasised the nexus between security and displacement, noting that lasting solutions to refugee and internally displaced persons’ challenges are closely tied to improved security, stability and effective civil–military cooperation.
“The COAS stressed that the Nigerian Army remains fully aligned with national efforts aimed at restoring peace and creating the enabling environment necessary for humanitarian and development interventions to thrive,” the statement said.
The COAS stated that through its ongoing operations across the country, the Army continues to prioritise the protection of civilians and the ensuring a secure environment that enables the safe return, resettlement and reintegration of displaced persons.
He assured the Commission of the Army’s readiness to sustain the support for humanitarian initiatives targeted at restoring dignity, improving livelihoods and enhancing the overall wellbeing of affected populations.
The NCFRMI Federal Commissioner thanked the COAS for the Army’s longstanding support to the Commission, noting the critical role played by the Army during previous evacuation and repatriation exercises of Nigerians from Cameroon, which he said contributed significantly to the success of the operations.
He urged for sustained collaboration and support as the Commission prepares to undertake another similar mission.
The federal commissioner emphasised that effective partnership with the military remains essential not only for operational success, but also for ensuring that humanitarian interventions translate into improved livelihoods, dignity and overall well-being of displaced persons.
