Nigeria Domesticates Kampala Convention As Tinubu Signs IDP Protection Law

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law a bill domesticating the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons, aimed at strengthening the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons, IDPs, in Nigeria.

The legislation, sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Okezie Kalu and co-sponsored by six lawmakers, received a presidential assent in February 2026.

The law provides a legal and institutional framework to prevent and address internal displacement, protect the rights of displaced persons and ensure coordination among government agencies and humanitarian actors.

“Nigeria ratified the Kampala Convention in 2009 alongside several other African Union member states during a summit in Kampala, Uganda.

“The new law seeks to domesticate the convention and address the root causes of displacement in Nigeria, including insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts and natural disasters.

“Millions of Nigerians remain internally displaced due to violence linked to groups such as Boko Haram as well as communal conflicts and environmental disasters.

According to the Deputy Speaker’s office, the law is expected to improve humanitarian response by strengthening protection mechanisms, providing durable solutions for displaced people and improving coordination between government institutions and humanitarian agencies.

Reacting to the development, Kalu commended President Tinubu for signing the legislation, saying it demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing the plight of displaced citizens.

He also called on Nigerians and the international community to support efforts aimed at tackling the humanitarian crisis and addressing the underlying causes of displacement.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji