Nigeria's IDPs and Refugee Settlement Policies: A Critical Analysis of Effectiveness and Sustainability

Abstract

          Nigeria remains one of the countries with the most displaced population in Africa, with over 3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and thousands of refugees. In response, the Nigerian government has introduced several policies, including the National Policy on IDPs (2021), the African Union’s Kampala Convention (2009), and the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement and Settlement. However, gaps in implementation, weak institutional frameworks, and funding constraints continue to hinder effective resettlement and long-term integration. This review critically examines Nigeria’s IDP and refugee settlement policies, assessing their effectiveness, sustainability, and policy gaps. A qualitative analysis of government reports, UNHCR and IOM publications, and scholarly studies were adopted. This paper evaluates key challenges in housing, security, access to social services, governance, and economic integration. Findings highlight persistent issues such as overcrowded IDP camps, inadequate funding, security threats, and weak inter-agency coordination, all of which limit the success of resettlement programs. To thoroughly analyze how well these policies support long-term recovery and reintegration, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework was adopted, which suggest that Nigeria’s displacement policies require urgent reform, particularly in enhancing legal enforcement, improving IDP self-reliance programs, and ensuring durable housing solutions. The study concludes that a shift from short-term humanitarian aid to sustainable development approaches is crucial for achieving lasting solutions.

Keywords: Nigeria, IDPs, Refugee, Displacement, Settlement Policy, Sustainability, Humanitarian Response