AN ASSESSMENT OF THE MANAGEMENT OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) IN NORTHCENTRAL NIGERIA(CASE STUDY OF SELECTED IDP CAMP IN ABUJA)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

As a result of ongoing social, economic, and environmental challenges, an increasing number of individuals are fleeing their homes and places of employment in search of temporary or permanent safety. In the past, violent wars, internal turmoil, systematic abuses, and natural reasons have all contributed to the worldwide issue of internal displacement that first came to light in the late 1980s. The pace of migration in the world reached its greatest point since the start of the twenty-first century; in 2011, UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres dubbed it a "century of people on the move" (Odey & Ushie, 2018). According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC, 2019), there were 30.6 million new internal displacements globally at the end of 2017, totaling 40 million internal displacement heads. These 143 nations and territories are home to these displacements, which are caused by both war and natural disasters. Of the 30.6 million additional displaced persons, 11.8 million were caused by violent conflicts, while the remaining 18.8 million were a result of natural catastrophes. Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe are among the areas impacted by catastrophes; Sub-Saharan Africa leads the world in the number of people displaced by violent conflicts (IDMC, 2019).In Nigeria, internal displacement is not a recent development. In the nation, it has been a common occurrence for more than 60 years. Since Nigeria gained political independence in 1960, violent conflicts have been the primary cause of the greatest number of internal displacement cases ever documented. The civil war, commonly referred to as the Nigerian civil war, which lasted from 1967 to 1970, is where the first incident occurred (Omoraka, 2021). Several sources have estimated that over 2 million people were either displaced or in need of humanitarian assistance within and across borders during the Nigerian civil war, although it is difficult to pinpoint the precise number of people displaced during this time due to conflicting figures and unreliable data (Mohammed, 2017). People relocate internally for a variety of intricate, multifaceted, and sometimes overlapping reasons. The following are some common causes or reasons for internal displacement in Nigeria: armed conflict between states or non-state actors; generalised violence; man-made catastrophes; climate change; ethno-religious conflicts; insurgency; natural disasters; and developmental initiatives (Omoraka, 2021). For both displaced people and host communities, internal displacement is significant. The immense resources needed to handle such circumstances and reconstruct impacted communities and livelihoods make these concerns known to be far more difficult for poor countries to handle. The world's developing countries have the fewest IDP returnees (IDMC, 2019). In addition to having little access to social services, food, water, housing, healthcare, and other necessities of life, displaced people are also vulnerable to discrimination, physical, sexual, and gender-based violence, and human vulnerability. Any state's security and welfare of its people come first, and without those things, the state's sovereignty will be called into doubt. The incapacity of the Nigerian government to provide a safe and secure environment for people's lives and property as well as for economic activity has resulted in the state's failure to fulfil its constitutional obligation to protect its inhabitants. These have been the difficulties the state has faced in the post-colonial world. The conclusion of this is that the state will never be able to ensure the safety of people's lives and property (Peter & Ocheni, 2015). Disasters brought on by the Boko Haram insurgency, floods, fires, collapsed buildings, aircraft crashes, accidents on the roads, unrest, armed banditry, militancy, communal disputes, and agitations have all occurred in Nigeria (Ezenyilimba, Maduagwu & Eze, 2018). The concerning level of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the north, has led to an upsurge in crime and terrorist attacks across the nation, placing the people living there in appalling conditions. The population relocation in Nigeria was caused by a number of circumstances, including conflict, starvation, and floods. In part, the rising number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Nigeria is a direct consequence of both violent conflicts and other natural calamities, such floods. The rise in population displacement in Nigeria, often attributed to government neglect in meeting people' social demands, has also been exacerbated by Boko Haram insurgencies in the country's northeast (Abdulrahman & Zuwaira, 2016). IDPs confront a number of difficulties, according to Abdulazeez (2016), including acute malnutrition, education, trauma and resentment, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), waste management, power, and a shortage of clean water. The Nigerian government's inability to enact economic policies aimed at raising the country's standard of living and providing job opportunities for its youth has left a gap in the labour market, increasing unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy among the youth. This has led to a range of inter-communal, ethnic, religious, and class conflicts that have come to define the nation and aided in the rise of Boko Haram. The Boko Haram insurgency, rural banditry, and herder-farmer conflict have been the most prevalent social epidemics in Nigeria that have resulted in internal population displacement among all other social menaces. These issues have generated current national concerns related to internally displaced people in the nation. The terrorist group Boko Haram adopted a radical stance as a consequence of the government's neglect of the socioeconomic requirements of its populace (Omoraka, 2021). The problem of internally displaced people (IDPs) has increased security difficulties for both the host communities and the authorities. Indeed, insecurity in any setting poses a risk to people's lives and property, impedes business, and deters both domestic and international investment (Omoraka, 2021). Thus, the nation's economic and human growth is slowed down. Nigeria has experienced a number of intricate political issues, such as national division, corruption, inequality, oil disputes, herder-farmer conflicts, and the Boko Haram insurgency (Abdulrahman & Zuwaira, 2016).The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), a national disaster management organisation established in Nigeria, assists in coordinating and managing catastrophes both inside the nation and with other state-controlled organisations. Along with the assistance of national and international civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the organisation is also in charge of overseeing the numerous camps for internally displaced people. To handle the problem of catastrophes, crises, and internally displaced people, each state in the federation developed its own emergency management organisation. Therefore, the researcher sought to examine the Management Of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) In Northcentral Nigeria(Case study of selected IDP camp in Abuja).

1.2       Statement of the problem

Many Nigerians have been left homeless, many villages have been looted, numerous children have become orphaned, and numerous women have become widows as a result of the terrorist actions of the Boko Haram group in the Northeast (Obikaze & Onuoha, 2016). As a consequence, the number of individuals affected by Boko Haram's terrorist acts has increased. State governments have constructed internally displaced person (IDP) camps across the challenged zones in response to these realities in order to handle these difficulties. The people admitted into these IDP camps are not sufficiently cared for, and there are unanswered questions about the general environment because access to food, clean water, and healthcare is not always guaranteed. Additionally, there are concerns about the general security of the camps and its occupants, particularly women and children, as there have been reports of abuse of some females and children in some IDP camps. These serious issues of negligence and abandonment by the state and her agents tend to arise. In order to manage the IDP situation, the state government finally constructed IDP camps, which were intended to act as temporary safe havens for the displaced. The ultimate goal of these IDPs was to eventually relocate these Nigerians back to their ancestral lands or, if that proved to be impossible, to other tranquil locations that could house them. Since the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents has lasted for more than ten years, there don't appear to be any appropriate plans in place for their relocation or resettlement. As a result, there are concerns that the area may not be safe for the people to return, and some of the previous returnees may end up returning to the IDP camps. It is these problems that necessitated the researcher to examine  the Management Of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) In Northcentral Nigeria.

1.2 Objective of the study

The broad objective of the study is to examine the management of internally displaced persons (IDPs) In Northcentral Nigeria. The specific obectives is as follows:

i.          Ascertain the causes of internal displacement in Northcentral Nigeria.

ii.        Examine the role of the state government  in the management of internally displaced persons in Northcentral Nigeria.

iii.      Explore the plights of internally displaced persons in various camps in Northcentral Nigeria.

iv.      To examine the challenges associated with the management of internally displaced persons in Northcentral Nigeria.

1.3 Research questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

i.          What are the causes of internal displacement in Northcentral Nigeria?

ii.        What are the role of the state government  in the management of internally displaced persons in Northcentral Nigeria?

iii.      What are the plights of internally displaced persons in various camps in Northcentral Nigeria?

iv.      What are the challenges associated with the management of internally displaced persons in Northcentral Nigeria?

1.5 Significance of the study

The findings of this research would provide useful information to state government as they will be exposed to the various challenges internally displaced persons go through in their day to day activities. Non-governmental organizations would also benefit from this study even as they worked with IDPs. The research will help the NGO to know to help those who suffer psychologically as a result of what they experienced that necessitate displacement from their homes. This study will provide useful information to the general public. It will provide useful educational materials in the libraries. This study will provide useful literature for further researchers who will conduct related research in the future.

1.6 Scope of the study

The study focuses on the management of internally displaced persons (IDPs) In Northcentral Nigeria. Hence, the study will ascertain the causes of internal displacement in Northcentral Nigeria, examine the role of the state government  in the management of internally displaced persons in Northcentral Nigeria, explore the plights of internally displaced persons in various camps in Northcentral Nigeria and examine the challenges associated with the management of internally displaced persons in Northcentral Nigeria. Hence, the study is delimited to selected IDP camp in Abuja.

1.7 Limitations of the study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.8 Definition of terms

Management: the process of dealing with or controlling things or people.

IDP: internally displaced persons