The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to develop and implement a national reintegration plan for millions of Nigerians displaced by violence, conflict, and natural disasters. This call came during a plenary session on Wednesday, where lawmakers unanimously adopted a motion that spotlighted the urgent needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country.
Leading the motion was Hon. Felix Nwaeke, the representative for Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai Federal Constituency in Rivers State. He stressed that while humanitarian aid and emergency support in IDP camps remain necessary, they are not sufficient. What’s needed, he argued, is a comprehensive and sustainable reintegration strategy that enables displaced persons to return to their communities with dignity, safety, and the resources to rebuild their lives.
According to Nwaeke, many IDPs live in overcrowded camps under deplorable conditions, often lacking access to food, clean water, healthcare, education, and psychological support. These camps were designed as temporary solutions, yet many residents have been there for years without a clear path back home.
The proposed reintegration plan would include cash assistance, food supplies, housing reconstruction, trauma healing services, and vocational training. It would also focus on restoring security in affected areas and rebuilding public infrastructure to ensure returning families can live in safe and functional environments.
The House directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NEMA to lead a nationwide assessment of IDP conditions and to formulate actionable reintegration strategies. Additionally, the Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management was tasked with oversight to ensure full implementation.
Lawmakers emphasized that reintegration must be treated as a national priority. Beyond relocating people, it should aim to restore their dignity, security, and future. Without a structured plan, millions risk remaining in limbo, deepening the humanitarian crisis.
The Scale of Nigeria’s Displacement Crisis
In his presentation before the House, Hon. Nwaeke cited alarming figures from humanitarian agencies, showing that as of April 2024, over 3.3 million Nigerians were living in displacement. These individuals, uprooted by conflict, terrorism, banditry, communal clashes, or environmental disasters, are spread across more than 300 IDP camps in states such as Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
“These are not just statistics,” Nwaeke said. “They represent human lives—mothers, fathers, children—each with a story of loss, survival, and hope. We must treat their plight with the seriousness it deserves.”
He pointed out that most camps are overcrowded and underfunded, with conditions falling far below acceptable standards. Issues such as food insecurity, inadequate medical care, poor sanitation, insufficient education for children, and a general lack of emotional and psychological support remain widespread across many of these settlements.
Emotional and Psychological Toll of Displacement
Beyond the physical hardships, Hon. Nwaeke highlighted the deep psychological scars borne by IDPs—many of whom have witnessed horrific violence or lost loved ones in traumatic circumstances.
“These people have gone through experiences that we cannot even imagine,” he said. “For them, survival has meant fleeing not just their homes but everything familiar—community, culture, routine, and livelihood.”
He warned that resettling these individuals without psychological support, trauma counseling, and livelihood opportunities would amount to abandonment.
“It’s not enough to restore peace in a region and expect IDPs to go back and pick up the pieces of their lives on their own,” Nwaeke insisted. “We must guide them through the process with compassion and institutional support.”
The Call for a Comprehensive Reintegration Plan
The heart of the lawmaker’s motion was the urgent need for a national reintegration blueprint that would restore dignity and hope to displaced Nigerians. According to him, this plan should cover several key components:
Cash Assistance and Financial Inclusion: Targeted cash transfers for returning families to meet immediate needs such as shelter repairs, food, and transportation. Micro-credit schemes and grants would help them rebuild livelihoods, especially for small farmers, artisans, and traders.
Food and Clothing Support: Many IDPs fled without basic items. Government and humanitarian bodies must ensure returnees receive food packs and clothing for the initial months of resettlement.
Trauma Healing and Mental Health Services: Post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety are common among displaced persons. Trained psychologists and social workers must support victims through counseling, therapy, and community healing sessions.
Housing and Infrastructure Rehabilitation: In many conflict-hit areas, homes, schools, clinics, and public utilities have been destroyed. Reintegration must include rebuilding efforts so returnees can access clean water, healthcare, and education.
Security and Community Rebuilding: Peace must be enforced in communities to prevent further displacement. This includes security deployments, forming local peace committees, and dialogue initiatives to rebuild trust among previously warring groups.
Education for Displaced Children: With thousands of children stuck in IDP camps, the plan must prioritize their re-enrollment in school, distribution of learning materials, and accelerated programs to catch up on lost education.
Livelihood and Skills Development: Many IDPs have lost their income sources. The plan must offer vocational training, farm inputs, and entrepreneurship programs to help them become self-reliant.
Institutional Involvement and Legislative Oversight
Following the adoption of the motion, the House directed two key federal agencies—the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)—to lead a nationwide assessment of IDP camps. This is meant to gather reliable data on living conditions, challenges, and potential reintegration strategies.
The House also mandated its Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management to monitor implementation of the directive. The committee will ensure the recommendations are acted upon and that the reintegration plan is not only developed but also executed effectively.
Such legislative oversight is essential to keep the issue high on the national agenda and to hold relevant agencies accountable.
Experts and Stakeholders React
Humanitarian organizations, civil society groups, and policy experts welcomed the resolution, calling it a long-awaited step from emergency response to long-term reintegration.
Dr. Amina Musa, a displacement expert with over ten years of field experience, said the motion was overdue.
“We’ve seen cycles of displacement without sustainable return. Camps that were supposed to be temporary have existed for years,” she said. “The Nigerian government must now prioritize reintegration the same way it does emergency relief.”
The Nigerian Red Cross also welcomed the motion. A spokesperson said the organization is ready to support the reintegration effort through community outreach, medical aid, and shelter support.
However, some analysts advised caution, pointing out that past government promises often went unfulfilled.
“There must be political will, budgetary allocation, and measurable milestones,” said public policy analyst Chuka Nduka. “Otherwise, we risk recycling a humanitarian crisis.”
IDPs Speak: Hope Amid Uncertainty
From the dusty plains of Zamfara to the flood-hit terrains of Kogi, many IDPs who heard about the House’s resolution expressed cautious optimism.
“We have waited for years to go back to our village,” said Musa Abdullahi, 38, who fled Southern Kaduna in 2021 due to bandit attacks. “But what do we return to? Our homes are burnt, our farms destroyed, and no schools for our children.”
Fatima Yusuf, a mother of five in an IDP camp in Benue, said she would welcome any government plan that helps her family return with dignity.
“We need more than food. We need our lives back.”
Their voices echo the central message of Hon. Nwaeke’s motion: reintegration must go beyond relocation—it must restore dignity, security, and hope.
A National Imperative, Not an Option
Nigeria’s displacement crisis is one of the largest in Africa. While some conflict zones have stabilized, efforts to rebuild lives have fallen behind. The House’s motion reflects a growing awareness that temporary shelters and emergency aid are not enough.
Reintegration is not just a humanitarian need—it is a development necessity. Without it, millions risk falling deeper into poverty, radicalization, or permanent dependency. Worse still, failure to reintegrate IDPs could fuel future conflict, especially in communities still grappling with resource disputes and social tension.
Experts argue the reintegration plan must be embedded in national development strategies, with state and local governments playing key roles. Communities must be empowered to take ownership of rebuilding, guided by national policies and supported by international partners.
Turning Compassion into Tangible Action
The House of Representatives has taken a vital step by calling for a national reintegration plan for Internally Displaced Persons. With over 3 million Nigerians still displaced and living in fragile conditions, the urgency cannot be overstated.
This is not the time for short-term relief measures alone. What is needed is a comprehensive and inclusive reintegration plan—one that prioritizes physical return while also focusing on emotional healing, economic empowerment, and community rebuilding. Without this balance, displaced citizens will return only to uncertainty and hardship.
A successful reintegration strategy must be people-centered, backed by adequate funding, government commitment, and long-term support systems. From food and housing to mental health care and vocational training, every component must aim to restore dignity and provide a new beginning.
As Hon. Felix Nwaeke rightly stated, anything short of a structured and compassionate response shows a lack of sensitivity to the immense suffering of displaced Nigerians. The country must act—not just from obligation, but from a renewed sense of humanity and responsibility.
This is a defining moment for Nigeria. The decisions made today will shape not just the futures of millions of IDPs, but the moral direction of the nation. Turning compassion into policy is not just necessary—it is the only way forward.