3.5 Million Displaced Nigerians Face Uncertain Future as UN, EU Push for Long-Term Solutions

The United Nations, European Union, Nigerian state governments and development partners have called for a major shift in the country’s response to displacement, warning that millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) risk remaining trapped in dependency unless long-term development and integration strategies replace the current relief-focused approach.

The call was made on Tuesday in Abuja during the inaugural Project Steering Committee meeting of two intervention programmes designed to support displaced persons and host communities in Adamawa, Yobe, Kano and Sokoto states.

Stakeholders at the meeting noted that Northern Nigeria’s displacement crisis, which has affected an estimated 3.5 million people, can no longer be addressed solely through humanitarian assistance. While emergency relief efforts have saved lives over the years, they said deeper structural issues such as poverty, insecurity and limited economic opportunities continue to prolong displacement.

Speaking at the gathering, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, said displacement should now be viewed as a development, peacebuilding and human rights challenge rather than a temporary humanitarian emergency.

Fall revealed that through the UN Common Programme in 2025, nearly 200,000 children benefited from education and skills training initiatives, while about 150,000 people received livelihood support. He added that another 40,000 individuals regained access to essential legal documentation.

Despite the progress, he stressed that sustainable outcomes would only be achieved by integrating humanitarian assistance with long-term development planning.

According to him, durable solutions go beyond ending displacement and must provide affected populations with opportunities to rebuild their lives in dignity, security and economic stability.

Also speaking, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, urged governments and development partners to rethink how donor resources are invested.

Mignot argued that while humanitarian and development interventions have contributed to stabilising conflict-affected communities, future investments should focus on large-scale economic transformation initiatives capable of creating lasting impact.

He called for a comprehensive review of existing programmes and greater alignment with broader development objectives that can attract private-sector investment, stimulate economic growth and support durable solutions for displaced populations.

Representing the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Permanent Secretary Olubunmi Olusanya attributed the displacement crisis to a combination of insecurity, climate-related shocks and socio-economic pressures that continue to weaken community resilience.

Olusanya said the newly inaugurated steering committee would help tackle implementation challenges, including land access issues and the adaptation of global best practices to local realities.

He emphasised that while humanitarian assistance remains necessary, long-term solutions require stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, humanitarian organisations and affected communities.

The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from participating state governments and international partners to strengthen governance, improve accountability and accelerate efforts to help displaced Nigerians transition from reliance on aid to self-reliance.

For millions displaced by conflict, insecurity and climate-related disasters, stakeholders said the new approach could mark the beginning of a transition from managing displacement to achieving lasting solutions. However, they acknowledged that the success of the initiative will depend on translating policy commitments into tangible improvements in affected communities.