The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s (NA) commitment to supporting civil authorities and relevant government agencies in addressing the challenges faced by refugees, migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) nationwide.
According to a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja on Thursday by the Acting Director Army Public Relations Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS gave the assurance while receiving the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Dr Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, on a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
It stated that Shaibu emphasised the strong nexus between security and displacement, noting that lasting solutions to the challenges of refugees and IDPs were closely tied to improved security, stability, and effective civil–military cooperation.
He stressed that the Army remained fully aligned with national efforts aimed at restoring peace and creating an enabling environment necessary for humanitarian and development interventions to thrive.
The statement added that the COAS stated that through its ongoing operations across the country, the Service continues to prioritise the protection of civilians and ensuring a secure environment that enables the safe return, resettlement and reintegration of IDPs.
He assured the Commission of the Army’s readiness to sustain the support for humanitarian initiatives targeted at restoring dignity, improving livelihoods and enhancing the overall well-being of affected populations.
In his remarks, Dr Tijani Aliyu Ahmed expressed appreciation to the COAS for the Nigerian Army’s longstanding support to the Commission.
He recalled the critical role played by the Nigerian Army during previous evacuation and repatriation exercises of Nigerians from Cameroon, which he noted contributed significantly to the success of the operations.
The Commissioner further requested sustained collaboration and support from the Nigerian Army as the Commission prepares to undertake another similar mission.
He emphasised that effective partnership with the military remains essential not only for operational success, but also for ensuring that humanitarian interventions translate into improved livelihoods, dignity and overall well-being of IDPs.
