- Author(s): Professor L. Adesomon Okukpon
- Volume 10, June 2021
This paper canvassed for the strong need to revisit the National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria and called for a renewed implementation plan of the policy in view of the recurrent incidences of forced displacement in Nigeria. The paper began with a discussion of the incidences of internal displacement which necessitated the development of the policy and overview of the National Policy on IDPs. It also discussed the rights of the internally displaced persons as contained in the policy document from the perspectives of rights of internally displaced children, women, persons with disabilities,
persons living with HIV (PLHIV), displaced elderly persons, and the rights of IDPs to voluntary return, local integration and relocation as well as the responsibilities of government in the protection of IDPs rights. The paper provided the reasons why the policy must be revisited and made solid recommendations for a renewed action-plan implementation of the policy for prevention of internal displacement, for protection and assistance of IDPs during displacement, for rehabilitation of IDPs, for return, relocation and local integration of IDPs, and finally for achieving durable solutions to internal
displacement in Nigeria.