National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

This Policy on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is a comprehensive national framework designed to address the challenges faced by individuals displaced due to conflicts, natural disasters, and other causes. It emphasizes the need for proactive measures to prevent displacement by tackling its root causes while ensuring the protection and safeguarding of the fundamental human rights of displaced populations. The Policy outlines strategies to achieve durable solutions for IDPs, aiming to eliminate their need for specific assistance or protection linked to displacement. It supports informed decision-making for IDPs regarding voluntary return to their places of origin, integration into host communities, or relocation within the country. Additionally, the Policy leverages regional and international legal instruments to create a robust framework for their protection and long-term solutions. It also establishes an interagency, multi-sectoral coordination mechanism for managing internal displacement and clearly defines the roles of the Government, host communities, humanitarian actors, security agencies, and funding bodies while detailing the rights and responsibilities of IDPs.
This Policy seeks to achieve the following specific objectives (i) ensure the establishment of a comprehensive and gender-responsive framework for national responsibility, coordination and collaboration with respect to protection, assistance, and other humanitarian interventions related to internal displacement in Nigeria; (ii) provide for the respective obligations, responsibilities and roles of various agencies and institutions of government and non-state actors including communities, civil society organizations, armed groups, international humanitarian and development partners, or any other relevant actors with respect to the prevention of internal displacement, protection of, and assistance to internally displaced persons; (iii) provide framework that will encourage all humanitarian actors to strive toward ensuring that no displaced person remains in camp or camp-like situation for more than a period of 6-12 months, using the various durable solution options; (iv) promote the fundamental human rights of all internally displaced persons and returnees in Nigeria and ensure their participation in processes that have direct impact on their wellbeing as well as ensure maximum access to protection and assistance without any form of discrimination whatsoever; (v) accentuate the commitment of the Government to the obligations of state parties under various international treaties, conventions and protocols relating to international humanitarian law and human rights protection in situations of emergencies and internal displacement; (vi) ensure measures are put in place to hold to account, state and non-state actors including individuals, armed groups, multinationals and other actors, whose actions or in-actions directly or indirectly result in arbitrary displacement of vulnerable populations.
To implement this olicy, a comprehensive Displacement Management and Implementation Framework (CDMIF) will be developed in consultation with stakeholders, including IDPs and humanitarian agencies. This framework will guide the creation of annual plans across various sectors and include a monitoring and evaluation system with clear indicators to assess progress. The Policy will adopt strategies focused on preventing internal displacement, protecting and assisting IDPs during displacement, rehabilitating displaced individuals, and facilitating their return, relocation, or local integration. Specific strategies include strengthening early warning systems, protecting family unity, providing psychosocial support, and ensuring IDPs make voluntary, informed decisions about their future. Additionally, the Policy emphasizes the importance of community sensitization, restoring social services, and promoting sustainable livelihoods in areas of return or integration.