Tinubu Signs Law to Protect Internally Displaced Persons

On February 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Kampala Convention Bill into law, which is designed to protect and assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. The bill was led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who was the primary sponsor alongside six other lawmakers.

This legislation aims to implement the provisions of the African Union Convention on the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, known as the Kampala Convention, which Nigeria ratified in 2009. The law seeks to eliminate the root causes of internal displacement and provide a legal framework for the protection and assistance of IDPs.

It emphasizes the government's obligation to coordinate humanitarian efforts and ensure a gender-friendly approach to support. The Deputy Speaker commended the President for signing the act, highlighting the need for collective efforts to address the humanitarian crisis affecting millions of IDPs in Nigeria, who face extreme poverty, hunger, and insecurity, primarily due to conflicts and natural disasters.