Former Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo has urged the government, humanitarian groups and global partners to pursue urgent and practical measures to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
He made the call on Friday, November 28, while serving as Chairman of the 10th House of Justice Summit in Kaduna.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Ade Ipaye, Osinbajo told participants that Nigeria needs a comprehensive plan that combines emergency relief, rehabilitation, reintegration and long-term support for citizens displaced or traumatised by violence.
He said, “Efforts of government to provide some comfort by way of camps and facilities for internally displaced persons, IDPs, have been inadequate, as the facilities struggle with the growing population, including children and disabled persons who have special needs.”
He noted that insecurity, which escalated in 2009, has uprooted countless families and forced many Nigerians into lives defined by loss and poverty.
According to him, “This traumatic episode is very frequently accompanied by family break-ups, with loved ones lost or separated, rarely to be seen again.”
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Osinbajo observed that the humanitarian fallout from Boko Haram attacks, communal conflicts and natural disasters continues to widen.
He described the demographic impact as troubling, citing figures from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre which show that over 3.4 million people were displaced by the end of 2024. He added that the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics recorded roughly half that figure.
He lamented the severe hardships faced by displaced people, stressing, “Malnutrition and related health problems are rampant.
“IDPs live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, making them vulnerable to diseases. Other problems confronting the IDPs include inadequate access to food, shelter, education and security.”
Reflecting on his work in Lagos, Osinbajo praised the House of Justice for advancing social justice initiatives through its annual summit.
He said, “Ten years ago, in 2015, you began an annual summit to evaluate and find solutions to the biggest justice challenge in Nigeria and Africa… this annual summit of the House of Justice is waxing stronger.”