Professor Ozekhome Calls for Urgent Action on Nigeria’s IDP Crisis
In a passionate plea to the Nigerian government, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has advocated for the creation of a dedicated agency to address the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country. He also urged the government to declare a state of emergency for these individuals, proposing a special budget to alleviate their suffering.
Ozekhome made the remarks following a visit to the Kuchingoro IDP camp in Abuja, where he had gone to celebrate the 50th birthday of legal practitioner Ifeanyi Ejiofor. The conditions he witnessed at the camp left him deeply troubled, with the lack of basic necessities like healthcare and education leading him to describe the situation as resembling that of the “living dead.”
“I call on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency for these IDPs, to allocate a special budget solely for their needs. They cannot be cared for by any other ministry. There should be an agency solely focused on alleviating their suffering,” Ozekhome stated. “When you visit the camps, you see men, women, and children living in unimaginable poverty, with no access to education or healthcare. They are essentially walking corpses, as described in the book The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah.”
Reflecting on his long-time collaboration with Ejiofor, especially on the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Ozekhome praised Ejiofor’s unwavering dedication and commitment to justice. He recalled how, during late-night working sessions, they both fought tirelessly for justice, a pursuit that is now etched in history.
Ejiofor, in his own remarks, echoed Ozekhome’s call for a state of emergency, adding that around 80% of IDP displacement was linked to insecurity in the country. He expressed frustration over the government’s failure to protect its citizens and provide adequate support for those displaced.
“It is clear that insecurity is a major factor driving displacement,” Ejiofor said. “The government is not doing enough to ensure the safety of its people. IDPs are essentially homeless and abandoned. A government that cannot protect its citizens does not deserve respect.”
Ejiofor also shared a personal story, explaining why he chose to spend his birthday visiting the IDP camp. In 2019, his own home was destroyed in a fire, leaving his family homeless for nearly a year. This experience fueled his desire to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering due to the failure of the system.
“By visiting the homeless, I want to show my support for those who, like me, are victims of a system that has failed them,” Ejiofor said. “The government must do more to prevent the continued rise of IDP camps. It is a shame that every day more people are displaced, showing that the government is not fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to protect its citizens.”
As the number of IDP camps continues to grow, Ejiofor called for decisive government action to address the root causes of displacement and ensure the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.
