MORE REFUGEES IN NIGERIA – COMMISSION

National Commission for Refugees (NCR) has raised alarm over the increasing rate of refugees in the country as well as the world in general. The commission said recent statistics indicated that about 7350 refugees and over 1.6million displaced persons were currently in limbo across the country.

Federal Commissioner for Refugees in Nigeria, Hajia Hadiza Sani Kangiwa disclosed this while marking this year's World Refugee Day in Abuja and called on government and well-meaning citizens to take proactive measures to stop further increase of refugees in Nigeria.

Kangiwa disclosed that the statistics indicated that the number had risen to over 16 million.

The Refugees Commissioner added that out of this number, over 2,000 were seeking asylum in Nigeria while 824,000 were seeking asylum across the African continent.

The commission explained that the agency was an arm of government in Nigeria charged with the duty to handle refugees, displaced persons, migration and other related matters.

He stressed that the World Refugee Day was a day set aside by the United Nations and other stakeholders to commemorate the effect of refugee phenomenon.

'They took my home, but they can't take my future', the theme of this year's celebration, witnessed several activities like lectures, cultural display and cocktail parties in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of the country.