The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria is currently home to over 6.7 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers, and 24,000 documented returnees from countries including Cameroon and Libya.
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Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tanko Sununu, made the revelation at the 72nd session of the Executive Committee (EXCOM) of the United Nations High Commissioner’s Programme in Geneva, Switzerland. He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Yakubu Kofarmata.
According to Sununu, the displacement figures are largely driven by insurgency, conflicts perpetrated by non-state armed actors, and natural disasters. He noted that the international community, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is overstretched both financially and in human resources, as donor support is increasingly redirected to other global priorities.
“As of September 2025, Nigeria hosts over 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers; has received over 24,000 documented returnees; and has a population of over 6.7 million internally displaced persons countrywide,” Sununu said. He commended Nigeria for providing protection through its national legal framework, including the fully functional NCFRMI Act of 2022, and noted that the Kampala Convention is awaiting presidential assent.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to protecting and assisting refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and IDPs, while calling on the international community to enhance partnerships, invest in digital solutions for secure data management, and support durable solutions that promote education, livelihoods, and social cohesion.
In a related development, the UNHCR announced plans to construct 500 housing units to support the relocation of IDPs in Yelewata and other communities in Benue State. Mrs. Beatrice Shonke, representing UNHCR, said the projects will commence once suitable land is available. A pilot initiative, “IDP Farms,” has already been launched in Tyomu community, benefiting 15 households who are supported to build homes while working the farms in the host community.
The high-level multisectoral coordination meeting in Makurdi, convened by the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) in partnership with Christian Aid and Ohonyeta Care Givers (OCG), brought together government agencies, UN bodies, civil society organizations, and development partners including the Red Cross, WHO, UNHCR, and several NGOs.
Director General of BICD, Leo-Angelo Viashima, emphasized the government’s commitment to a transparent, coordinated, and sustainable system, aligning humanitarian interventions with global development principles. He highlighted the importance of operationalizing the National Social Register to ensure transparency, eliminate duplication, and improve targeting of beneficiaries.
Viashima urged stakeholders to focus on durable solutions that transition Benue from emergency response to sustainable development, stressing that success should be measured not by the number of projects implemented but by the systems left behind.
During the meeting, partners shared updates on ongoing initiatives. Sight Savers reported on blindness prevention in Guma and Katsina-Ala LGAs, while SOAR Initiative highlighted gender-based violence prevention in IDP camps. WHO presented its technical support to the Ministry of Health, and other partners including Christian Aid, Tearfund, First Step, FJDP, and Terre des Hommes outlined programs in health, education, and livelihoods for displaced and host communities.
Representing the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Jeremiah Terdoo Ityokoso praised BICD for training IDP camp officials and institutionalizing best practices, emphasizing alignment with Benue State’s newly launched IDP Policy to ensure coordinated and effective interventions.
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