The United Nations has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigerian-led solutions to the country’s development and humanitarian challenges, following a recent visit by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.
According to UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Mohammed returned from Nigeria on Monday after visiting Zamfara State and Benue State, where she engaged with communities affected by insecurity and displacement.
During the visit, she observed firsthand the scale of humanitarian needs as well as ongoing response efforts by local authorities and development partners.
The UN also highlighted the growing role of digital tools in strengthening Nigeria’s humanitarian response, particularly in tracking internally displaced persons and improving data-driven decision-making.
Speaking at the 59th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD59) at UN Headquarters in New York, the organisation noted that Nigeria has adopted the Displacement Tracking Matrix developed by the International Organization for Migration to enhance its response to displacement challenges.
The tool, which is used in over 90 countries, has been instrumental in providing real-time data to support planning and intervention efforts, especially in regions affected by prolonged insurgency.
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Nigeria currently hosts about two million internally displaced persons, largely due to conflict in the North-East, underscoring the importance of effective data systems and coordinated humanitarian action.
However, the UN warned that challenges such as digital inequality, data privacy concerns, and the spread of misinformation continue to hinder the full potential of technology-driven solutions, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed concern over declining global funding for development programmes, warning that current financial commitments fall short of what is required to achieve sustainable development goals.
He called for more predictable and sustained financing, especially for countries facing significant humanitarian pressures.
The Commission on Population and Development continues to assess how population trends impact sustainable development, with Nigeria’s experience highlighting both the opportunities and challenges in leveraging technology to address complex humanitarian issues.