The Yobe State government is set to become the first in Nigeria, to domesticate the National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)after twelve years of existence.
During a Special Session with Development Partners, Governor Mai Buni, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Baba Malam-Wali, unveiled plans for the state to allocate 5% of its total budget for 2025, 2026, and 2027 towards supporting sustainable solutions for IDPs within the state.
Governor Buni highlighted Yobe’s proactive approach in addressing the multifaceted challenges of displacement, aligning with the United Nations Secretary-General’s agenda for resolving displacement issues.
He emphasized the state’s achievements in infrastructure development, healthcare provision, and essential services to enhance the livelihoods of returning host communities.
‘Yobe is the first state in the country to take strategic steps to address the complex challenges of displacement in line and response to the United Nations Secretary-General’s agenda and solution to displacement.
“I am delighted to say Yobe state in the last 5 years successfully constructed, rehabilitated and established new structures, provided healthcare as well as constructed roads, provided electricity and water to make life more meaningful for the returning host communities”
“I am delighted to inform you, that Yobe state will commit 5 per cent of its 2025, 2026 and 2027 total budget for the durable solution of Internally Displaced Persons in the state” he said.
The Project Coordinator, Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities, Dauda Suleiman, outlined key objectives aimed at establishing clear strategies for achieving durable solutions, providing social and economic opportunities for IDPs, and ensuring compliance with national and international legal frameworks for comprehensive IDP protection.
Yobe State, in collaboration with donor partners under the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities (SOLID) project, engaged with representatives from the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR), and other stakeholders to facilitate a dignified return of IDPs to their ancestral homes.
This initiative underscores the commitment of the Yobe government and its partners to address the needs of IDPs and host communities, in alignment with the National Policy on IDPs established by the Nigerian government in 2012 to safeguard the rights and well-being of displaced populations, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and children.
