The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has disclosed that 74 per cent of internally displaced persons (IDP) locations in Northwest Nigeria require shelter, exposing thousands of displaced people to difficult and unsafe living conditions.
The IOM programme manager and head of sub office, Katsina, Mr John Nahesi disclosed this while briefing journalists during a peacebuilding and strategic communication programme, stressing that displacement was not only about moving people from their communities but also about ensuring their safety, dignity and access to basic services.
According to him, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) data puts the number of displaced people in the region at about 737,073, with approximately 620,000 people affected or displaced by banditry.
He said the shelter situation was particularly concerning, as 74 per cent of IDP locations surveyed by IOM require shelter support.
“People are displaced, but they are not having good shelter to accommodate themselves,” he said.
Nahesi also disclosed that 89 per cent of IDP locations have inadequate sanitation facilities, warning that the poor conditions in displacement sites could further expose vulnerable populations to health and protection risks.
He said about 72,000 people had also been affected by floods, adding that climate-related shocks were compounding the humanitarian crisis in the Northwest.
The IOM official said the effects of displacement went beyond the loss of homes, as affected communities were also experiencing loss of livelihoods and agricultural production, increased food insecurity, social fragmentation and weakened community resilience.
He added that displacement had reduced economic opportunities for women and youths, increased dependence on humanitarian assistance and heightened tensions between displaced populations and host communities.
Nahesi identified weakened social cohesion and trust between communities and institutions, climate change, competition over natural resources, poverty and unemployment as some of the major challenges affecting humanitarian and peacebuilding interventions in the region.
He said IOM, with funding from the European Union and in partnership with other organisations, was implementing the Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience (CPCRR) Programme in Katsina and Zamfara states to address some of these challenges.
Under the programme, he said 80 Community Peace and Resilience Committees had been established, while about 1,700 community members and stakeholders had been trained in conflict prevention, early warning and early response.
He said the intervention also included mental health and psychosocial support, livelihood recovery, climate-smart agriculture, clean energy initiatives and community infrastructure.
John disclosed that 4,000 economic tree seedlings had been distributed to 2,000 households, while climate-smart agriculture kits had been provided to 300 beneficiaries.
He said 200 livestock kits had also been distributed in Zamfara, while 200 village savings and loan cooperatives had been established across Katsina and Zamfara.
The programme has also supported community infrastructure, including solar-powered boreholes, school blocks and veterinary clinics, with the aim of helping displaced and returning populations access essential services.
John stressed that providing shelter and basic services to displaced populations was critical to creating conditions for durable solutions.
He said the intervention was designed not only to respond to displacement but also to help affected communities rebuild livelihoods, strengthen resilience and remain in or safely return to their communities of origin.
He called for sustained collaboration among government, humanitarian organisations, development partners and communities to address the growing humanitarian needs in Northwest Nigeria.
