The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has received the Deputy Director General of Operations of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ogechi Daniels, at Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the Nigerian military and IOM in areas such as peacebuilding, migration management, and the fight against violent extremism.
Daniels commended the Nigerian Government for its leadership in implementing Operation Safe Corridor, a rehabilitation and reintegration programme that has expanded from the North East to other regions, including the North West and North Central. She announced IOM’s readiness to deploy experts in Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration, and Reconciliation (DDRR) to support new efforts in Zamfara State.
She also stressed the importance of improved data for disaster risk reduction, technical support for border management, and early warning systems. According to her, IOM maintains a strong field presence across all Lake Chad Basin countries and has recently signed an agreement with the UK Development Office to begin Phase 4 of rehabilitation and community-based reintegration.
While appreciating the Nigerian Government for enabling IOM’s operations in the country, Daniels reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to safe returns and integration of internally displaced persons, with a focus on long-term development.
Responding, General Musa praised IOM’s long-standing partnership, especially in the North East, and assured of the Armed Forces’ readiness to collaborate with stakeholders in advancing peace and stability. He noted the challenges of limited resources but stressed that the military welcomes every partner working to ease its efforts.
The visit highlights the shared commitment of both the Armed Forces of Nigeria and IOM to tackle insecurity, displacement, and migration challenges while promoting sustainable peace and development.
