The Federal Executive Council has adopted Nigeria’s Revised 2025 National Migration Policy, with the Federal Government saying the new framework will strengthen migrant protection and improve support for Nigerians returning home.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, described the approval as a major step towards building a more coordinated and people-centred migration system. The policy was adopted at the FEC meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The revised policy updates the National Migration Policy first adopted in 2015 and seeks to address emerging migration challenges while maximising the benefits of migration to Nigeria's development.
Policy to Strengthen Migrant Protection
Doro said the revised framework would strengthen the protection of migrants and expand opportunities for safe and regular migration.
It is also designed to improve assistance for Nigerians returning from abroad, strengthen migration and diaspora data, and create better mechanisms for harnessing the economic and developmental contributions of migration.
The minister said Nigeria's participation in the 2026 International Migration Review Forum at the United Nations headquarters in New York demonstrated the country's commitment to implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
According to him, the adoption of the revised policy brings those international commitments into a coordinated national framework.
Focus on Nigerians Returning Home
A major component of the policy is the improvement of return and reintegration programmes for Nigerians coming back to the country.
The government said the framework would provide stronger support for returnees and improve coordination among agencies involved in migration management.
It is also expected to strengthen the collection and use of migration and diaspora data, helping authorities better understand migration patterns and develop appropriate policies.
Wider Consultation
The revised policy emerged from extensive consultations involving federal and state government institutions, civil society organisations, academia, international development partners and other stakeholders.
The review was coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, with technical support from the International Organization for Migration.
The revised policy and its Integrated Implementation Plan were validated by stakeholders in Abuja in April 2025.
Doro said the FEC approval was not the end of the process, stressing that the next priority is effective implementation so the policy can produce practical benefits for Nigerians at home and abroad.
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