IOM reaches 1.4 million Nigerians with assistance in 2024
Published By: Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has announced that it reached over 1.4 million Nigerians with humanitarian and developmental assistance in 2024.
IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Ms. Paola Pace, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
She outlined the organization’s achievements, emphasizing its commitment to providing critical support across various sectors to vulnerable populations.
According to Pace, 1,197,432 individuals benefited from humanitarian support, including Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services, as well as Shelter and Non-Food Items (S/NFI) assistance. These services targeted internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable host communities.
In addition to its humanitarian work, IOM supported 30,562 people through development initiatives, including livelihood and resilience-building programs. Another 10,332 individuals benefited from peace-building efforts aimed at conflict-affected communities.
“Our outreach has been significant in both rural and urban areas, providing critical services to internally displaced persons, returnees, and host communities,” Pace said.
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Looking ahead, Pace reiterated IOM’s commitment to expanding its impact in Nigeria. She revealed plans to scale up assistance in 2025, focusing on sustainable development, resilience building, and empowering individuals and communities.
“In 2025, IOM plans to scale these numbers up, especially as the country transitions from humanitarian action to foster durable solutions, ensuring a more sustainable future for the most vulnerable populations,” Pace said.
She added that Nigerians could expect intensified efforts to address vulnerabilities and maximize the benefits of migration, particularly in the wake of challenges such as the 2024 floods.
“The floods of 2024 demonstrated how quickly and unequivocally a disaster can push individuals into situations of vulnerability or compound already existing vulnerability,” she noted.
The IOM Chief emphasized the organization’s resolve to not only respond to emergencies but also advocate for anticipatory action and environmental policies to tackle climate change and land degradation.
“Our programmes will continue to focus on sustainable development, resilience building, and ensuring that we can deliver on the promise of migration for all,” she concluded.
