Tinubu Tasked On IDPs’ Return, Rehabilitation

• INGOs urge focus on rehabilitating IDPs to ancestral homes; emphasize structured aid distribution to prevent dependency and save lives
• Increased collaboration noted between NGOs and government in addressing IDP challenges, enhancing sustainable change in crisis-affected communities

Some International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) operating in Nigeria have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to prioritise returning and rehabilitating Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to normalcy in their ancestral homes.

On Saturday, they called at a roundtable discussion on the critical role of partnerships in driving sustainable change for communities affected by crises across the country, in Abuja’s humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding sectors.

Mercy Corps Nigeria, Plan International Nigeria, Catholic Relief Service, and Intersos Nigeria are among the members of the Nigeria INGO Forum (NIF).

Suleiman Sani, Deputy Chief of Mercy Corps, stated that significant efforts have been directed towards assisting IDPs in their recovery process and assisting them in resuming their normal lives.

Relying solely on relief assistance can inadvertently foster a dependency challenge. Some displaced individuals may develop an unhealthy reliance on relief aid, even when they possess the means to sustain themselves, Sani said.

Concerning the methodology of distributing relief materials to IDPs, Charles Usie, Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, stated that their distribution process is meticulously planned and executed.

We follow a structured approach, distributing food consistently to specific communities over extended periods, guided by a well-defined matrix. Not everyone receives relief aid; rather, it’s directed towards those at the highest risk of malnutrition and starvation. Our goal is to save lives from hunger.

Years ago, we experienced a tragic loss of nearly 400 children due to hunger-related issues. However, we’ve since made significant strides in addressing this. Our focus remains on saving lives first, Usie said.

Also, Ms Camila Corradin, Director of the INGO forum, noted the increased collaboration between NGOs and the government in addressing IDP challenges across various regions in the country.