Dr Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, has called for stronger protection, better support systems and deeper solidarity for refugees, displaced persons across Nigeria.
Doro made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 World Refugee Day Stakeholder Dialogue on Protection Solutions and Solidarity, held at the ECOWAS Commission Auditorium in Abuja.
The event was held under the theme, “Until Everyone is Safe,” and brought together government officials, humanitarian agencies, development partners, regional institutions and community actors working on displacement and refugee protection.
The minister said refugee protection should not be seen only as a humanitarian duty. He described it as a shared responsibility built on human dignity, justice and solidarity.
Top Nigerian government official speaking at World Refugee Day 2026 in Abuja
His message came as the world marked the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the key international agreement that protects people forced to flee persecution, war and violence.
Doro said the anniversary should remind leaders that people who run from danger deserve safety, legal protection and the chance to rebuild their lives.
The minister said the world is facing rising pressure from conflict, insecurity, climate change and economic shocks. He noted that these problems are forcing many families to leave their homes and putting extra strain on countries and communities that receive them.
According to him, Nigeria must continue to strengthen the systems that protect vulnerable people, especially refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities.
Doro said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is aimed at linking emergency humanitarian response with long-term development. He said the government wants to move beyond short-term palliatives and create stronger pathways to recovery, resilience and self-reliance.
This means displaced families should not only receive food and temporary support. They should also have access to education, health care, skills training, jobs, social protection and reliable data-based assistance.
The minister said Nigeria is working to build stronger social protection frameworks, expand data-driven interventions and create livelihood opportunities for people affected by displacement.
He also stressed the need for coordinated partnerships, saying no government can handle the displacement crisis alone.
Doro commended the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, ECOWAS, development partners, humanitarian workers and host communities for their continued support.
He said their work has helped to advance protection solutions and keep attention on people who are often forgotten after they have been forced from their homes.
Nigeria has faced years of displacement linked to insurgency, banditry, communal clashes, flooding and other crises. Many displaced families still live in camps or host communities where access to jobs, schools, health care and safe shelter remains limited.
The minister said stronger planning is needed to ensure that displaced persons and host communities are not left behind.
He also said policies and investments must focus on giving people a real chance to recover, not just helping them survive from one emergency to another.
The World Refugee Day dialogue placed strong attention on protection, inclusion and solidarity. It also reflected the global call that safety should not be limited to a few people, but must apply to everyone forced to flee danger.
Doro said Nigeria would continue to work with local and international partners to build a future where every displaced person can live in safety, dignity and hope.
He added that the country’s humanitarian response must remain firm, practical and people-centred, especially at a time when conflict and hardship continue to push families into uncertainty.
The minister’s message was clear: refugee protection is not only about compassion. It is also about stability, justice and the future of communities that carry the burden of displacement.