The Federal government on Friday launched a National Action Plan to end and prevent the emergence of new statelessness cases in the country.
Statelessness is a situation in which a person is not recognised as a national of any state under the operation of its laws.
Speaking during the event in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said statelessness violates the non-discriminatory provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He added that there was the need to urgently end statelessness as a stateless person constitutes a security threat to the country.
“A stateless person without allegiance or commitment to a state remains a veritable security risk, especially when statelessness is caused by war, disputed territories, nomadic-pastoralist migration, foundlings etc.
“Statelessness is an affront on personal dignity, liberty and human rights of affected persons. As such, no person should be allowed to pass through such a horrific situation. We should recognise that it is an unfortunate situation foisted on affected persons by circumstance. I assure you that we shall provide decisive, visionary and exemplary leadership to achieve zero-level stateless person status by 2024.“
