The Deputy Director-General (Operations) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mrs. Ogechi Daniel, has lauded the Federal Government for its leadership in implementing Operation Safe Corridor, describing it as a model for rehabilitation and reintegration now extending beyond the North East to the North West and North Central regions.
Mrs. Daniel gave the commendation during her visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said in a statement that the meeting provided an avenue to strengthen cooperation on peacebuilding, migration management, and countering violent extremism across Nigeria.
Mrs. Daniel reaffirmed IOM’s readiness to deploy experts on Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration, and Reconciliation (DDRR) in new conflict-affected states, including Zamfara. She further stressed the need to improve data for disaster risk reduction and ensure better coordination with national stakeholders.
Highlighting IOM’s technical role in border management and early warning systems, she disclosed that the organisation maintains field presence across all member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. She also revealed that IOM recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Development Office to commence Phase 4 of rehabilitation and community-based reintegration.
While appreciating the Federal Government for creating the enabling environment for IOM’s work, Mrs. Daniel reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the safe return and local integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs), with greater emphasis on development-driven solutions. She added that joint research collaboration will be critical to sustaining peace and reintegration approaches nationwide.
In his response, General Musa welcomed the IOM Deputy DG and acknowledged the organisation’s longstanding partnership with the Armed Forces, particularly in the North East. He assured her of the military’s continued collaboration with IOM and other stakeholders in advancing peace and stability despite the challenges of limited funding.
“We support everybody that makes our work easier,” the CDS said.
The visit, officials noted, underscores the shared commitment of IOM and the Armed Forces of Nigeria to deepen collaboration in addressing insecurity, displacement, and migration challenges while fostering sustainable peace and development.