President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), popularly known as the Kampala Convention, in a major step aimed at strengthening humanitarian protection and safeguarding the rights of displaced Nigerians.
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, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, alongside six other lawmakers including Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Hon. Khadijat Bukar Ibrahim, Hon. Blessing Onuh, Hon. Nasiru Shehu, Hon. Felix Uche Nwaeke, and Hon. Steve Fatoba.
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The legislation had earlier been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, and seeks to domesticate the African Union Convention on the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons in Nigeria.
The Act provides a legal and institutional framework for the prevention, mitigation, and elimination of the root causes of internal displacement, while also ensuring the protection of the rights and welfare of internally displaced persons in line with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant international instruments.
It also outlines the responsibilities of government agencies and other stakeholders in addressing internal displacement and providing humanitarian assistance, while promoting collaboration among relevant authorities and international partners.
Nigeria had joined 32 other African Union member states in ratifying the Kampala Convention during its adoption in 2009, committing to address the growing humanitarian crisis associated with displacement across the continent.
Reports indicate that Nigeria currently faces a significant displacement crisis, with millions of citizens forced from their homes due to insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, and natural disasters, leaving many in overcrowded camps with limited access to healthcare, education, and security.
The domestication of the Kampala Convention is expected to strengthen the country’s response to these challenges by improving coordination of humanitarian interventions and providing durable solutions for affected persons.
Reacting to the development, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu commended President Tinubu for signing the bill into law, noting that the move demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing the plight of internally displaced persons.
Kalu urged Nigerians and the international community to support the implementation of the Convention to effectively tackle the humanitarian crisis and address the root causes of displacement across the country.
