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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, has signed into law a bill for an “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.”
The bill, which was sponsored by the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and 6 others, seeks to to strengthen humanitarian protection and uphold the rights and dignity of displaced citizens.
Kalu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the law ultimately seeks to domesticate and enforce in Nigeria the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons, which is known Kampala Convention.
According to him, the new law also seeks to eliminate the root causes of internal displacement in Nigeria in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and other relevant laws and international instruments to which Nigeria is a party.
The deputy speaker commended President Tinubu for signing the Act, stating that he has given a human face to the suffering of IDPs, demonstrating his commitment to addressing their plight.
He urged Nigerians to support the efforts of the government in implementing the Kampala Convention.
Kalu said “We must work together to address the humanitarian crisis and provide durable solutions for IDPs. The international community is also called upon to partner with Nigeria in addressing the root causes of displacement.”
Key objectives of the legislation are to provide a legal and institutional framework for the prevention, mitigation and elimination of root causes of internal displacement; make provision for the protection, assistance and durable solutions for internally displaced persons in Nigeria among others.
The domestication of the Kampala Convention marks a significant step towards protecting IDPs in Nigeria as it is expected to check overcrowded, under-resourced shelters, limited access to healthcare and education.
