The bill seeking protection and assistance for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in line provisions of the Kampala Convention has been assented to by President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), also known as the Kampala Convention.
This move is aimed at strengthening humanitarian protection and safeguarding the rights and dignity of displaced persons in Nigeria.
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,” received presidential assent in February 2026.
The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, alongside six other lawmakers—Jonathan Gbefwi, Khadijat Ibrahim, Blessing Onuh, Nasiru Shehu, Felix Nwaeke and Steve Fatoba as co-sponsors.
The legislation had earlier been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly—the Senate and the House of Representatives—and seeks to domesticate and enforce the provisions of the Kampala Convention in Nigeria.
The Act also aims to eliminate the root causes of internal displacement in the country in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), as well as other relevant laws and international instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Nigeria was among 32 member states of the African Union that ratified the convention during the Kampala Convention in 2009.
The objectives of the law include establishing a legal and institutional framework for the prevention, mitigation and elimination of the root causes of internal displacement; providing protection, assistance and durable solutions for IDPs; and safeguarding the human rights of displaced persons in line with national laws and international obligations.
The Act also outlines the obligations, responsibilities and roles of government agencies and non-state actors, while providing a comprehensive and gender-responsive framework for national coordination and humanitarian interventions relating to internal displacement.
It further seeks to promote solidarity, cooperation and durable solutions among state parties to the convention, as well as collaboration between government institutions, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders to address displacement and its consequences.
Nigeria continues to face severe humanitarian challenges with millions of IDPs struggling with extreme poverty, hunger, disease and insecurity in largely informal camps across the country.
The displacement crisis has been largely driven by insurgency by the extremist group Boko Haram, banditry, farmer–herder conflicts and natural disasters.
Reports say the domestication of the Kampala Convention represents a major step toward improving protection for displaced persons, particularly in addressing issues such as overcrowded and under-resourced camps, as well as limited access to healthcare and education.
Reacting to the development, Kalu commended President Tinubu for signing the bill into law, saying the move demonstrates the administration’s commitment to addressing the plight of displaced persons.
He said, “The president has given a human face to the suffering of IDPs by signing this bill into law, demonstrating his commitment to addressing their plight.”
The deputy speaker also called on Nigerians and the international community to support the implementation of the convention.
“We must work together to address the humanitarian crisis and provide durable solutions for IDPs. The international community is also called upon to partner with Nigeria in addressing the root causes of displacement,” he added.
