By Joel Ajayi
The newly appointed Chairman of the Rabat Process Steering Committee and Federal Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Mr. Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, has pledged to promote sustainable migration policies, strengthen regional cooperation, empower youth, and leverage innovation to drive positive migration outcomes.
The Rabat Process, formally known as the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development, is a regional migration platform established in 2006 to facilitate consultation and coordination between European and African countries. It focuses on operationalizing initiatives and fostering partnerships to address migration challenges effectively.
The Rabat Process Steering Committee comprises 16 member countries, including:
African countries: Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal.
European countries: Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Just last week, Nigeria hosted its first Steering Committee meeting under its chairmanship following the official handover from Portugal in January 2025 during the Senior Officials Meeting in Porto, Portugal. The chairmanship alternates annually between African and European partner countries, ensuring balanced governance and shared responsibility in migration management.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Mr. Ahmed assured that under Nigeria’s leadership, the committee would prioritize advancing sustainable migration policies and enhancing regional cooperation. He emphasized that the transition of chairmanship from Portugal to Nigeria reflects the cooperative spirit of the Rabat Process and reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening migration governance.
“Nigeria’s leadership aims to enhance cooperation between African and European partners to address pressing migration challenges while promoting opportunities for youth, diaspora engagement, and regular migration pathways,” he said.
With strong backing from international partners, Nigeria’s chairmanship marks a new era of strategic migration dialogue, shaping policies that benefit both migrants and host communities.
According to Ahmed, Nigeria’s leadership will focus on three key thematic areas: Regional Cooperation, Inclusive Migration and A Balanced and Humane Approach
He highlighted that Nigeria would advocate for safe, legal, and beneficial migration pathways, particularly focusing on youth and innovation. Additionally, the country’s leadership would tackle challenges such as missing migrants, climate-induced displacement, and human trafficking, while ensuring sustainable reintegration of returnees.
Ahmed expressed optimism that Nigeria’s tenure would yield tangible progress in strengthening regional and bilateral cooperation, fostering collective action on migration governance.
He also advised Nigerian youths on safe travel and digital skill acquisition, stressing the importance of educating young people on legal migration pathways and equipping them with relevant skills for economic empowerment.
Furthermore, he called for increased advocacy through media, universities, and industries to provide young people with accurate migration-related information, helping them make informed decisions about their futures.
