In new policy, FG shifts responsibility of displaced indigenes to state

By MATTHEW OGUNE, Abuja

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq has disclosed the decision of the federal government to allow states to take responsibility for Internal Displaced indigenes.

Farouq in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Nneka Ikem Anibeze said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the National Policy on Internal Displacement (IDP) after her policy presentation to the house.

“The State Government is responsible for the welfare of its indigenes while the Federal Government is concerned with the welfare of all Nigerian citizens.

“In times of humanitarian challenges, the State Government has the primary responsibility while the Federal Government intervenes as required.” The Minister said.

In her presentation, the minister noted that the policy will provide a platform for all relevant actors in the Humanitarian and Development space to key in and contribute towards a common goal.

This, she said includes the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, whose role on managing digital identities of IDPs in collaboration with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is also clearly captured in the draft document.

“The overall goal of the policy is to strengthen the institutional mechanism and frameworks for the realization of the rights, dignity and well being of vulnerable populations through mitigation of the impact and achievement of durable solutions to Internal Displacement in Nigeria”.

Farouq stated that the Ministry will coordinate the implementation of the National IDP policy through the Civil-Security Cooperation (CISEC)framework which is already providing a platform for the coordination of responses between the Government, civilians and security apparatus in humanitarian settings.

“The coordination of the IDP policy will be one more chip that falls into place in Government’s strategic methods of improving and ultimately resolving internal displacement.
However, the Federal Government will be responsible for ensuring that the framework for protection and assistance through this Policy is being adhered to by all actors, across all tiers of government and across all sectors”.

Having obtained approval for the policy, a multi-sectoral structure will fully emerge to ensure that all individual actions by all actors are aligned to an overall plan, with set objectives and targets which include resolving various challenges faced by displaced persons, mitigating disasters, providing relief, conflict resolution, supporting rehabilitation efforts, social protection, preventing encampment and facilitating durable solutions.

Since its inception in 2019, the Ministry has been coordinating responses to humanitarian issues affecting the country.

It has also been responding to disasters while building the capacity of responders and actors within the disaster management sector, to adequately mitigate and prevent disasters from occurring. (The Guardian)