President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has signed into law a bill aimed at strengthening the protection and support framework for internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Nigeria.
The legislation domesticates the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa and is now officially known as the Kampala Convention Act in Nigeria.
The bill was sponsored in the House of Representatives by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, alongside six other lawmakers.
Reacting to the President’s assent, Kalu described the development as a major step toward addressing the challenges faced by millions of displaced Nigerians.
He said the new law reflects the Federal Government’s determination to respond to the humanitarian crisis affecting displaced persons with urgency and compassion.
According to him, the legislation provides a legal framework that will strengthen the protection of displaced citizens while safeguarding their rights and dignity.
Kalu also praised President Tinubu for endorsing the domestication of the African Union convention, noting that the law would enhance cooperation and coordination among federal and state agencies responsible for humanitarian response.
The Deputy Speaker explained that the Act is expected to significantly improve living conditions in IDP camps and host communities across the country.
He noted that the legislation would help tackle persistent challenges such as overcrowded shelters, inadequate resources, and limited access to essential services including healthcare and education for displaced persons.
Beyond addressing immediate humanitarian needs, the law also seeks to confront the underlying causes of internal displacement in Nigeria.
The Act gives full effect to the Kampala Convention adopted in 2009 by the African Union, which Nigeria and more than 30 other African countries have signed.
It also aligns the convention’s provisions with Nigeria’s legal framework, including the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Stakeholders believe the new legislation will provide stronger institutional support for displaced persons while improving humanitarian response and long-term solutions to displacement in Nigeria.
