Tinubu taking the right steps on IDPs’ welfare – Deputy Speaker Kalu assures UN

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has reassured the United Nations that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is actively improving the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.

Kalu gave this assurance during a high-level United Nations online event held on Wednesday to mark the 27th anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internally Displaced Persons. He was one of the esteemed panelists at the event.

In his address, Kalu highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to domesticating the Kampala Convention, a regional treaty focused on protecting and assisting IDPs. He stated that the Tinubu administration had already initiated critical components of the treaty to improve IDPs’ living conditions.

According to him, the National Assembly is finalizing the necessary legislation to give legal backing to the treaty. Once the President assents to the bill, all states of the federation will be required to adopt it for nationwide implementation.

“Our target is that these principles become alive in our country by making sure that the Kampala Convention, which we’ve ratified, will be domesticated into our laws,” Kalu stated.
“I personally proposed the bill in the House of Representatives. It has been passed and is currently with the Senate for concurrence. The Senate report is ready and will be considered once we resume on April 29, after which it will be transmitted to the President for assent.”

He further explained that Nigeria has prioritized specific guiding principles such as protection from arbitrary displacement, safety during displacement, the right to know the fate of relatives, and the right to return or resettle.

Kalu also cited the efforts of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), which has resettled about 300 IDPs in Keffi, Nasarawa, and Kano States, with the construction of over 40 new homes.

“The Executive has also developed a national policy on IDPs to govern activities in this area,” he said.
“The NCFRMI, established through legislation passed in 2022, is fulfilling its mandate of rehabilitation and livelihood restoration for communities affected by displacement.”

He described the “resettlement city” model adopted by the commission in Keffi as a practical example of progress, noting that it has already accommodated hundreds of IDPs, with further expansions underway.

Kalu emphasized that while domestication of the Kampala Convention remains crucial, the government is already taking practical steps through national policy frameworks and institutional efforts to support displaced communities.

“The government must be commended. Even without the full domestication of the Kampala Convention, they are already implementing supportive measures,” he said, adding that partnerships with Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and international organizations are also in progress to fast-track legislative and policy frameworks.