World Refugee Day: Nigeria must do more for refugees, IDPs

Each year, on June 20, the world honours the courage, resilience and determination of the millions of people forced to flee their countries to escape wars, conflict or persecution. This day is designated by the United Nations (UN) as World Refugee Day to honour refugees around the globe. The theme for the 2025 World Refugee […]

Each year, on June 20, the world honours the courage, resilience and determination of the millions of people forced to flee their countries to escape wars, conflict or persecution. This day is designated by the United Nations (UN) as World Refugee Day to honour refugees around the globe.

The theme for the 2025 World Refugee Day is solidarity with refugees, which is a call on the world to honour the stories of refugees and show unwavering support to their plight. According to the UN Refugee Agency, the word refugee is used to describe a displaced person who has crossed international borders to find safety. Unlike refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have not crossed international borders; therefore, they remain under the protection and responsibility of their governments. However, both refugees and IDPs share similar plights. Their reasons for fleeing are similar; both are in search of safety against violence, persecution and in some instances, natural disasters.

Nigeria embodies this crisis on both fronts. Here, some communities of Borno, Sokoto and Katsina, living along the Nigeria/Chad, Nigeria/Niger and Nigeria/Cameroon borders have found refuge in neighbouring countries due to insecurity. Equally, Nigerian states, especially Cross River, Taraba and Akwa Ibom, have been known to host thousands of Cameroonian refugees who have fled their country’s violence. In fact, the UN Refugee Agency said Nigeria hosted 127,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from 41 countries at the end of 2024, with most of them living in host communities. Yet, an even more pressing concern is Nigeria’s staggering 3.5 million internally displaced persons from mostly violent situations and, in some cases, natural disasters, such as flooding. In 2024 alone, an estimated number of 295,000 IDPs were associated with conflict and violence in Nigeria, according to data from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. This figure will likely climb by the end of 2025 due to increased violence in many parts of the northeast, northwest, as well as recent attacks in Plateau and Benue states.

Though this day focuses on solidarity with refugees, Nigeria must look inwards to address the root causes of its many security challenges that are causing a mass exodus of people from their communities. Whether refugees or IDPs, the pressing issue is that Nigerians are forced to flee their homes for safety, and the growing number of displaced citizens is not only a cause for concern but a national emergency.

Solidarity in all senses must mean protecting our citizens, and this protection cannot be guaranteed without prioritising security, implementing conflict prevention strategies, and ensuring that displaced communities are not merely forgotten statistics. It behooves governments at the federal, state and local government levels to bring an end to the wanton killings in many parts of the country and ensure that every Nigerian has the basic right to safety and security in his/her home.

In the meantime, there should be temporary relief such as food and shelter, as well as other basic amenities, at IDP camps. But this temporary measure must ultimately be replaced by more sustainable interventions that empower displaced individuals through education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities, to enable them to rebuild their lives and become self-reliant.

With external humanitarian aid shrinking, Nigeria must turn inward for sustainable solutions. This is where philanthropists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and corporate bodies need to step in, to augment areas where international donors fall short, by ensuring displaced persons get some form of safety and dignity. While we commend NGOs and other good Samaritans who periodically visit IDP camps around the country to provide food and medicine, we insist that the Nigerian government must find a permanent solution to its growing number of IDPs. Ultimately, there is no place like home, and many of the refugees and IDPs would rather be in their homes than at the mercy of others. Refugees and displaced persons who cannot return to their communities should be provided the necessary support to be integrated into host communities and be protected from stigma or discrimination. The government must also consider new resettlements for those who are willing to start new lives in other places while also repatriating and providing security for those willing to return to their homes.

Most importantly, Nigeria’s political leaders must fulfill their constitutional responsibility to provide security and uphold justice for all. After all, governance failure is a contributory factor to Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, which causes displacements. As we honour refugees and other displaced persons today, government officials must be reminded that World Refugee Day is not a day for hollow speeches or declarations. It is a day for reflection and decisive action to end insecurity, protect displaced persons and provide lasting safety for all.