NHRC Hosts Forum to Address Displacement Crises in 11 States

Monitors and action groups reported 865 instances of limited access to education and 1,283 cases involving difficulties in obtaining food an...

Monitors and action groups reported 865 instances of limited access to education and 1,283 cases involving difficulties in obtaining food and shelter among internally displaced persons and forced displaced people.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held a discussion meeting on Wednesday to tackle the systemic issues faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) in 11 states.

The difficulties encountered by those who have been displaced were noted by the Human Rights Monitors (HRM) and the Community Protection Action Group (CPAG), which are organized by the NHRC and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

As stated by Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, the gathering was essential for "enhanced cooperation and coordination among agencies at the state and local government levels."

The gathering was coordinated by the NHRC in collaboration with the UNHCR.

The surveillance systems and activist groups reported 865 instances of limited access to education and 1,283 situations involving difficulties in obtaining food and housing among the displaced individuals and those forced to move internally.

Other challengesinclude feelings of uncertainty, harsh environments involving sexual violence, and unsanitary situations.

Mr. Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, stated that after internal assessments, the data necessitated the commission to go beyond creating structures to guarantee responsibility and openness.

"It is essential that cases directed to the Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) with a protection role or other Law enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are handled openly, conveying a strong signal that breaches against FDPs will not be tolerated," he stated.

The official representing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Ussiji Nledana, emphasized that safeguarding the rights of internally displaced persons is a constitutional and ethical duty that goes beyond mere humanitarian responsibility.

The NHRC and UNHCR initiated a program aimed at tracking and addressing the situations of internally displaced persons, refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees across 11 states.

Many of them are located in northern Nigeria, a region that has been affected by complex conflicts and violent crimes, such as terrorism and robbery, for over ten years.

Just two out of the 11 states are located in the southern region of the country.

The states include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom (South-south), Benue, Borno, Cross River (South-south), Taraba, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

As per the data shared during the event, Benue State has the largest number of displaced people: 39,852.

Land for IDPs

During the forum, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia mentioned the government's initiatives to secure land for IDP camps, taking into account the ancestral homes of those who have been displaced.

"Let me just clarify, the current situation in the state is about figuring out how to move our IDPs closer to their ancestral homes. The approach we're taking is that we've already begun purchasing sections of land in their main local government headquarters," he stated.

The government (Benue) is offering them (IDPs) 20 percent of land in their home local government headquarters. Thus, ultimately, they now have a decision to make, which is to return completely and finally to their ancestral homes.

In the same way, the representative of the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Utomobong Inyang, mentioned that the state administration has established 205 compassionate homes.

Ms. Inyang characterized the residences as "a shelter program designed for vulnerable individuals and families without sufficient housing, including those uprooted by crises."

She mentioned that the government's goal of providing 500 homes for the most vulnerable individuals and families will be accomplished within the next 18 months.

She further mentioned that the Akwa Ibom State government is implementing an empowerment initiative and a food security project, which provides free essential food items such as rice, beans, and gari to disadvantaged individuals via a food voucher system.

Several representatives from the 11 states attended, including the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency, Isyaku Kubarachi. Attendees also included representatives from the offices of the attorneys general in Taraba, Zamfara, and Cross-River States, along with law enforcement officials and members of civil society organizations.

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