President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law a bill aimed at strengthening the protection and assistance framework for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, formally domesticating the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, also known as the Kampala Convention.
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, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, alongside six other lawmakers.
The co-sponsors include Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Hon. Khadijat Bukar Ibrahim, Hon. Blessing Onuh, Hon. Nasiru Shehu, Hon. Felix Uche Nwaeke and Hon. Steve Fatoba.
The bill, which received presidential assent in February 2026 after being passed by both chambers of the National Assembly of Nigeria, provides a legal and institutional framework for the protection, assistance and long-term support of displaced persons across the country.
The law seeks to domesticate and enforce the provisions of the Kampala Convention, an African Union treaty adopted in 2009 to address internal displacement across the continent.
Nigeria was among 32 African countries that ratified the convention following its adoption in Kampala, Uganda, in 2009.
The new Act is expected to address the root causes of internal displacement, while ensuring the protection of the rights and dignity of displaced persons in line with the Constitution and international humanitarian obligations.
It also outlines the responsibilities of government institutions, humanitarian agencies and non-state actors in responding to displacement crises and providing durable solutions for affected communities.
Nigeria has faced prolonged humanitarian challenges resulting in millions of internally displaced persons, largely driven by insurgency linked to Boko Haram, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts and natural disasters.
Many IDPs live in overcrowded and poorly resourced camps, often lacking adequate healthcare, education and security.
Reacting to the development, Kalu commended President Tinubu for assenting to the bill, described the move as a major step toward addressing the humanitarian crisis.
According to him, the law gives a “human face” to the suffering of displaced citizens and reflects the administration’s commitment to improving their welfare.
He also called on Nigerians and the international community to support the effective implementation of the law in order to tackle the root causes of displacement and provide lasting solutions for affected populations.
