President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law a landmark legislation aimed at protecting and assisting internally displaced persons across Nigeria.
The new law gives legal effect to the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, a continental framework designed to safeguard the rights and dignity of people displaced by conflict, disasters, and other crises.
The legislation, titled “Act to Give Effect to the Provisions of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria; and for Related Matters,” was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, alongside six other lawmakers.
Co-sponsors of the bill include Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Khadijat Bukar Ibrahim, Blessing Onuh, Nasiru Shehu, Felix Uche Nwaeke, and Steve Fatoba.
The bill, which received presidential assent in February 2026, had earlier been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly of Nigeria — the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The law seeks to domesticate and enforce the Kampala Convention in Nigeria, providing a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to prevent internal displacement and ensure adequate protection and assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
It also aims to address the root causes of displacement in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other international humanitarian instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Nigeria ratified the convention in 2009 alongside other member states of the African Union during the Kampala Convention.
The legislation outlines key responsibilities for government agencies and non-state actors in responding to displacement crises while establishing mechanisms for humanitarian intervention, coordination, and long-term solutions for affected communities.
Nigeria currently faces a significant humanitarian challenge with millions of internally displaced persons, largely driven by insurgency, banditry, communal conflicts, and natural disasters.
Many displaced citizens live in overcrowded camps with limited access to healthcare, education, and other basic services.
Observers say the domestication of the Kampala Convention is expected to improve protection standards, strengthen institutional response mechanisms, and promote sustainable solutions for displaced populations.
Reacting to the development, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the bill into law, describing the move as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to addressing the humanitarian plight of displaced Nigerians.
According to him, the legislation gives a “human face” to the suffering of IDPs and creates a structured framework for protection and assistance.
Kalu also called on Nigerians and the international community to support efforts aimed at addressing the root causes of displacement and implementing durable solutions for affected populations.
“We must work together to address the humanitarian crisis and provide durable solutions for IDPs,” he said.
The law is expected to strengthen collaboration between government institutions, humanitarian organisations, and international partners in tackling displacement and supporting affected communities across the country.
