PCMM partners NHRC to safeguard migrants’ rights

The Platform for Cooperation on Mixed Migration (PCMM) has formalized a strategic partnership with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nigeria to advance the protection and promotion of the rights of all individuals within the migration cycle. This includes migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and returnees across the country.

This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to ensuring that human rights remain central to Nigeria’s migration governance framework, particularly in light of recent developments. The Federal Ministry of Interior has announced a nationwide operation targeting irregular migration, set to commence on the 1st of August 2025. While border control and migration management are vital to national security, PCMM and NHRC emphasize that these efforts must not compromise the dignity, safety, and rights of vulnerable populations.

Through this partnership, PCMM and NHRC will work together to strengthen rights-based approaches to migration management, facilitate legal awareness among affected populations, monitor human rights abuses, and enhance access to justice. Joint initiatives will include stakeholder engagements, legal aid interventions, human rights education, and policy advocacy aimed at building a more humane and inclusive migration system in Nigeria.

As migration challenges intensify across West Africa, this alliance sends a clear message: the protection of human rights is not negotiable, and every individual—regardless of status—deserves to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.