Refugees Appeal To FG For Empowerment, Refugees Passport

Some refugees in Nigeria on Saturday appealed to the Federal Government to provide them with empowerment and access to refugees passport for proper identification.

The refugees made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the novelty football match between the refugees and humanitarian actor teams to mark the 2017 Refugees World Day in Abuja.

One of the refugees, Damian Emmanuel commended the government, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and National Refugees Commission for organising the match to mark the Refugees Day.

The refugees also thanked the organisers and the team players for providing food and relief materials to assist them.

Emmanuel said that the food and relief materials given to them would definitely finish, adding that they will need money to start up their own businesses for sustenance.

“It is indeed a great occasion, it shows that Refugees that are scattered all over the world are remembered and organising this football match is an avenue to make us come together.

“To show that we are still loved, which will generate unity and peaceful co-existence among us and I really want to commend the organisers.

“Our major challenge is that, though the government has really tried in giving us food and relief materials but we still need to be empowered.

“We need money to start our own businesses because food will finish and we need to look beyond the government assistance.

“The Federal Government can even establish the business and employ us, it will help,’’ he said.

Another refugee, Abdullahi Kamara, who also appreciated the Refugees commission and the UNHCR for organising the football match said it has helped to engage them and removed their minds from their worries.

He said that it would be a good idea if a standard football team can be formed for Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees to keep them busy and avoid idleness.

“ Government has really tried for us, I cannot go back to my country again but we will really be happy if they can help us get our Refugees passports because it is difficult to get it done,’’ Kamara said.

Also, Ernest Jacob said that the government has tried to make them happy, saying “but there is still room to do more especially during this recession period.

“The government should please consider giving us incentives or soft loans that can be used to start up business.’’

NAN reports that the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs and the National Immigration Department are engaged in a process called refugee status determination programme.

This process would help to ascertain stateless persons that are eligible for the UN passport, a document they can hold on to before their respective cases are resolved.