Nigeria Takes Lead At UN Migration Forum, Pushes Diaspora-Driven Development And Lower Remittance Costs As National Strategy

<cite index="7-1">Nigeria has called for stronger global cooperation, practical migration systems and increased investment in migrant protection and diaspora engagement at the just concluded International Migration Review Forum, IMRF 2026, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.</cite>

<cite index="7-2">Speaking on behalf of Nigeria and the African Group during high-level sessions of the forum, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, stressed the need for migration governance that protects human dignity while advancing sustainable development.</cite>

<cite index="7-3">The IMRF serves as the principal global platform for reviewing the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, GCM, adopted by the United Nations in 2018.</cite>

A Seat at the Table

Nigeria's prominent role at IMRF 2026—including co-chairing a major roundtable on diaspora engagement and delivering the African Group's plenary statement—reflects the country's growing recognition that migration policy is development policy.

With an estimated 15 million Nigerians living abroad and diaspora remittances exceeding $20 billion annually, Nigeria has more at stake in global migration governance than almost any other African nation. The country's interventions at the forum made clear that it intends to leverage that weight.

<cite index="1-3,1-4">Speaking as co-chair of Roundtable 3 on Diaspora Engagement at a forum held at the United Nations Headquarters on Wednesday, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, said Nigeria is repositioning its diaspora strategy to align with national development priorities while strengthening migration governance systems. In a statement signed by Janet Dickson Noah on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister highlighted the growing role of Nigerians in the diaspora, noting their contributions through remittances, investment, skills transfer and innovation, which continue to support inclusive economic growth.</cite>

<cite index="1-5">He said government backed platforms, including the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit and diaspora focused financial instruments, are being leveraged to attract investment and facilitate knowledge exchange.</cite>

The Remittance Cost Fight

One of Nigeria's key asks at the forum was a commitment from the global community to reduce remittance transfer costs. <cite index="7-7">He further urged stronger commitments towards reducing remittance transfer costs, promoting digital financial systems and expanding diaspora investment opportunities across African countries.</cite>

Currently, sending money to Nigeria through traditional channels like Western Union or MoneyGram can cost 8% to 12% in fees—far above the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of 3%. For a Nigerian nurse in London sending £500 home each month, those fees can consume £600 or more per year—money that could otherwise go toward school fees, medical bills, or small business capital.

Digital platforms like Wise, Remitly, and Nigeria-focused fintechs have driven costs down in recent years, but adoption remains uneven, especially among older diaspora members or those sending money to rural areas where recipients lack smartphone access or reliable internet.

Nigeria's push at IMRF for regulatory harmonization and expanded access to digital financial infrastructure could materially improve the lives of millions of families who depend on diaspora support.

From Beneficiaries to Partners

<cite index="1-6">These efforts reflect a shift from viewing diaspora communities solely as beneficiaries of protection systems to recognizing them as active development partners, with Nigeria positioning its experience as a model for improving coordination and scaling migration governance frameworks globally.</cite>

That shift has policy implications. It means moving beyond consular services (passport renewals, emergency assistance) toward structured engagement: diaspora bonds to finance infrastructure, skills transfer programs that bring Nigerian doctors and engineers home for temporary assignments, and formalized pathways for diaspora professionals to participate in policymaking.

<cite index="7-9">He outlined Nigeria's future priorities to include strengthening labour mobility systems, ethical recruitment frameworks, migration data infrastructure, diaspora engagement and sustainable reintegration programmes for returning migrants.</cite>

<cite index="7-10">\"Migration is a human reality that must be governed in a manner that protects dignity, safeguards rights, and contributes to development,\" he stated.</cite>

Climate and Conflict Displacement

<cite index="7-8">On climate-related migration pressures, the minister emphasised the need for proactive adaptation measures, resilience-building in countries of origin and stronger coordination in managing cross-border movement.</cite>

Nigeria's position here is informed by hard experience. Desertification in the north, coastal erosion in the south, and farmer-herder conflicts driven by shrinking arable land have already displaced millions internally. As these pressures intensify, cross-border migration—into Niger, Cameroon, and beyond—will grow. Nigeria is arguing for international support not just to manage the flow, but to address root causes through climate finance and agricultural adaptation.

Side Events and Next Steps

<cite index="7-11">As part of Nigeria's participation at the forum, the country co-hosted side events focused on decent work, legal identity, skills recognition and youth-led innovations on safe and regular migration.</cite>

Those sessions attracted diaspora professionals, international NGOs, and potential investors, creating a space for practical deal-making alongside the formal diplomatic proceedings.

<cite index="12-8">Observers at the forum noted that Nigeria's interventions reflected a growing emphasis on coordinated governance systems, diaspora-driven development, education-linked economic inclusion and practical reforms capable of translating global commitments into measurable outcomes for vulnerable populations.</cite>

Those events will be key tests of whether Nigeria can translate its UN advocacy into concrete programs that benefit the diaspora—and the communities back home that depend on them.

Reporting drawn from Vanguard News, Blueprint Newspapers, Tribune Online.