Human-induced conflicts such as the Boko Haram Insurgency (81.2%), farmer-herder conflicts (16.2%), and banditry/kidnapping (1.6%), as well as natural disasters like flooding, are the main causes of the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Northern Nigeria. In 2023, over 1.1 million people were displaced, with Borno State having the highest number of displaced households. In 2024, flooding submerged large parts of Maiduguri, displacing 800,000 people and adding to a deepening humanitarian crisis that affected 31 states.
In order to provide displaced people with necessities like food, shelter, healthcare, and education, nonprofit organisations like the Naza Agape Foundation have been crucial. Notwithstanding their endeavours, these organisations encounter obstacles such as cultural hurdles, insufficient resources, and instability. Private Sector participation, international help, and strong government backing are necessary for long-term development and recovery. Developing Infrastructure and promoting Peace are two aspects of a complex strategy to address displacement. People’s testimonies in Northern Nigeria demonstrate the resilience of people in the face of displacement.
Through a NGO funded by UNICEF, IDPs receive help.
Aisha Mohammed, for example, is a mother of five who lives in the GGSSS IDP Camp in Bama. Having been displaced twice by conflict, Aisha has turned her hardships into opportunities by becoming a hygiene promoter. Through a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) funded by UNICEF, she teaches her community about good hygiene, greatly enhancing health outcomes in the camp. Her commitment not only creates a healthier environment but also gives her a sense of agency and purpose.
The Nigerian government’s response to internal displacement has changed over the years, but in Banki, northeastern Nigeria, people like Hauwa Ari have shown incredible solidarity by opening their homes to displaced families. Hauwa, a 25-year-old mother of three, has welcomed 40 displaced families onto her land, giving them a sense of normalcy and shelter amid chaos. Her actions underscore the crucial role that local communities play in supporting IDPs, often filling the gaps left by formal aid structures.
National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons, September 2021.
With the goal of bolstering institutional safeguards and aiding IDPs, the Federal Executive Council adopted the National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons in September 2021. This policy aims to alleviate effects, address the underlying causes of displacement, and provide long-term solutions. But there are still issues with implementation, coordination, and resource distribution, which calls for ongoing dedication and cooperation from all governmental levels. Organisations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have played a significant role in helping the Nigerian government manage displacement and in delivering humanitarian aid on a global scale.
Strategies to meet urgent humanitarian needs while encouraging long-term recovery and resilience among displaced people are outlined in IOM’s Nigeria Crisis Response Plan for 2024–2025. This entails strengthening the capacity of the government to respond, cultivating collaborations, and incorporating displaced people into larger development initiatives. There are a number of concrete actions that people can take to help nonprofit organisations or advocate for Northern Nigeria’s displaced population. Financial Contributions: You can supply vital resources for relief and development initiatives by making a Donation to respectable local NGOs like the Naza Agape Foundation or international organisations like UNICEF and IOM.
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Advocacy and Awareness: Educating people about the predicament of internally displaced people (IDPs) via social media, neighbourhood gatherings, or correspondence with decision-makers can garner support and have an impact on policy choices. Volunteering: Contributing time and expertise to organisations that support displaced people can have a direct influence on the lives of those impacted. Helping Education and Livelihood Programs: Giving to programs that offer economic possibilities, education, and Vocational Training enables displaced people to start over and become self-sufficient. Taking part in these activities encourages a team effort to lessen the difficulties internally displaced people in Northern Nigeria encounter, fostering optimism and resilience in the face of hardship.