THE LEGAL REGIME FOR REFUGEE CHILD PROTECTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Refugee  crisis  being  a  transboundarymovement  affecting many  countries  of  the  world  raises  a  global  concern  on proper actions to be taken to protect victims of such crisis particularly the minors. Legal machinery has from time to time been set in motion to achieve this purpose. Unfortunately, there remains an upsurge of refugee children many of  whom  are  unaccompanied.  This  paper  attempted  a  study  of  the  laws  relating  to  the  refugee  child  within  the territorial jurisdiction of Nigeria and discovered that these laws are omnipotent on papers butimpotent in practice. It  was,  therefore,  recommended  inter  alia,  that  beyond  admitting  these  children  into  the  country  proper  and practical protection measures should be put in place to integrate them in the system; provide the necessities of life to them;  protect  them  from  all  forms  of  exploitation;  and  grant  them  assistance  in  the  enforcement  of  their  rights against violators