Tinubu Signs Kalu’s Bill Domesticating Kampala Convention to Protect IDPs into Law

Tinubu Signs Kalu’s Bill Domesticating Kampala Convention to Protect IDPs into Law

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention), marking a major step toward strengthening humanitarian protection and safeguarding the rights and dignity of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.

The legislation, titled “An Act to Give Effect to the Provisions of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria; and for Related Matters,” received presidential assent in February 2026.

The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, as the lead sponsor, alongside six co-sponsors: Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Khadijat Bukar Ibrahim, Blessing Onuh, Nasiru Shehu, Felix Uche Nwaeke, and Steve Fatoba.

The legislation was earlier passed by both chambers of the National Assembly of Nigeria—the Senate of Nigeria and the House of Representatives of Nigeria—and seeks to domesticate and fully enforce in Nigeria the provisions of the Kampala Convention adopted by the African Union.

The Act aims to address the root causes of internal displacement in Nigeria in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and other relevant international instruments to which the country is a signatory.

It will be recalled that Nigeria, alongside 32 other African Union member states, ratified the Convention following its adoption in 2009 during the Kampala Convention in Kampala, Uganda.

The objectives of the new law include providing a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the prevention, mitigation, and elimination of the root causes of internal displacement. It also provides for the protection, assistance, and durable solutions for internally displaced persons across Nigeria.

Furthermore, the law seeks to ensure the protection of the human rights of IDPs in line with constitutional provisions, relevant laws, and international commitments. It also defines the responsibilities of government agencies—referred to as “competent authorities”—as well as the roles of non-state actors in responding to displacement.

The legislation establishes a coordinated and gender-responsive framework for national response, collaboration, and humanitarian intervention related to internal displacement.

It also promotes solidarity, cooperation, and mutual support among State Parties to the Convention, relevant authorities, and non-state actors in combating displacement and addressing its consequences.

Reports indicate that Nigeria continues to face severe and protracted humanitarian crises, with millions of internally displaced persons living in difficult conditions, including extreme poverty, hunger, disease, and insecurity—often in informal and overcrowded camps.

The displacement crisis is largely driven by the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, and natural disasters.

The domestication of the Kampala Convention therefore marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to protect displaced populations and improve living conditions in camps, including access to healthcare, education, and other essential services.

Reacting to the development, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Act into law, noting that the decision demonstrates the administration’s commitment to addressing the plight of internally displaced persons.

He said the President had effectively given “a human face” to the suffering of IDPs across the country.

Kalu also called on Nigerians to support government efforts toward the effective implementation of the Convention.

“We must work together to address the humanitarian crisis and provide durable solutions for IDPs. The international community is also called upon to partner with Nigeria in tackling the root causes of displacement,” he said.