CALABAR, CROSS RIVER – Governor Bassey Edet Otu, has raised alarm over the humanitarian strain on Cross River State, hosting over 50,000 refugees, mostly from conflict-ridden Cameroon.
Speaking Monday at the Executive Council Chambers in Calabar during a courtesy visit by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission to Nigeria, Ms. Dimanche Sharon, the governor called for stronger international support.
“Migration may come with global opportunities, but here, it’s a heavy burden. We are overwhelmed by the growing needs of displaced persons,” Otu stated.
The governor urged for enhanced cooperation in refugee management, psychosocial support, and border coordination. He emphasized that Cross River remains peaceful, investment-friendly, and ready for global partnerships.
“Cross River is one of Nigeria’s most peaceful and socially organized states. We see opportunity even in adversity and are ready to co-create solutions with partners like IOM,” Otu said.
He welcomed IOM’s planned collaboration with the newly formed State Diaspora Commission, stressing the need for a data-driven refugee and migration response.
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Ms. Dimanche Sharon commended Governor Otu’s leadership and hospitality. “We need to retell the Nigerian story,” she said. “What I saw in Cross River is peace, diversity, and great potential.”
She reaffirmed IOM’s readiness to deepen engagement in Cross River, noting priority areas such as displacement tracking, anti-human trafficking efforts, and diaspora-led development initiatives.
“We’re excited to co-develop a flagship programme that reflects Cross River’s unique context,” Sharon said. “This state can become a model for migration governance in the region.”
IOM currently operates in 25 Nigerian states and has pledged to scale up efforts in Cross River due to its strategic location and migration challenges.