Senator Sadiq Umar has lamented that more than 3 million Nigerians are still in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps across the country.
He further expressed concern that the problem seems to have defied several efforts, noting that millions remain displaced.
He made this statement at the ongoing second ordinary session and seminar of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament) in Accra, Ghana, while presenting on “Strategies for Addressing Internal Displacement and Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Nigeria”.
Speaking on behalf of Senator Jibril Barau, he explained that although Nigeria is blessed with extensive agricultural and pastoral economies, with the majority of its people depending on farming or livestock production for survival, pressure on land and water resources has culminated in conflicts, banditry, terrorism, and other disasters.
To mitigate displacement, he noted that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction was created to manage emergency relief operations and internally displaced persons’ response systems.
He disclosed Nigeria’s increasingly consistent approach with the international shift from short-term humanitarian response towards government-led, development-oriented solutions, adding that Nigeria is one of the countries selected under the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internally Displaced Persons and Focused National Pathways towards Durable Solutions.
“Nigeria’s commitment to the protection of internally displaced persons has also been strengthened through its engagement with the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, commonly known as the Kampala Convention,” he said.
He stressed that internal displacement should not be treated as the exclusive responsibility of humanitarian agencies but requires coordination among relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and traditional institutions.
He also emphasized the need to pay critical attention to early warning signs, conflict prevention mechanisms, and climate adaptation.
According to him, livestock should be treated not simply as a security concern but as an important economic sector, stressing that investment in ranching, feeding, and breeding can mitigate pressures associated with uncontrolled livestock markets.
He challenged his colleagues to design a legislative framework necessary for protecting displaced persons as well as regulating land and livestock management.
“Parliamentary committees should conduct evidence-based oversight of government programs and expenditure relating to displacement, security, agriculture, livestock, and reconstruction,” he said.
He added that Nigeria’s experience has demonstrated that internal displacement and farmer-herder conflicts are complex challenges requiring comprehensive and coordinated solutions.
He therefore advised that prevention of similar problems in the region and continent at large should be prioritized over cure.
“For Africa, the challenge extends beyond responding to crises after they occur. It requires building resilient institutions, economies, and communities capable of preventing conflicts and protracted displacement.
As parliamentarians, we have a responsibility to support appropriate legislation, strengthen oversight, promote inclusive dialogue, and ensure that public resources are directed towards sustainable solutions,” he added.
He strongly urged the region to learn lessons from the lingering farmer-herder conflicts and their attendant humanitarian crises in Nigeria.
The report focused on Nigeria’s internal security challenges and their socio-economic implications.
