Section 8: Application for refugee's status

(1) Application for the grant of a refugee's status shall be made to the Federal Commissioner through the nearest competent officer or through the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Nigeria.
(2) A competent officer to whom a person seeking asylum first presents himself shall, if he is not himself an immigration officer, as soon as possible notify an immigration officer that a person seeking refugee's status has entered into or is present in Nigeria.
(3) An application received by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees shall be forwarded to the Eligibility Committee constituted under section 6 (1) of this Act.
(4) The Eligibility Committee may invite the applicant to appear before it.
(5) The decision of the Eligibility Committee shall be notified in writing to the applicant by the Federal Commissioner.
(6) If the Eligibility Committee recommends that the applicant shall not be granted refugee status, it shall give reasons for its decision.
(7) In the case of a refusal to grant refugee status, the applicant may appeal against the decision of the Eligibility Committee to the Board established by section 7 (1) of this Act within thirty days of his being notified of the refusal.
(8) While awaiting the final decision by the Board, the applicant shall be allowed to remain in the country in accordance with section 1(3) of this Act.
(9) If the applicant is finally refused a refugee status, he shall be given reasonable time to seek admission as a refugee into another country.