An estimated 3.7 million Nigerians are currently living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Benard Doro, has disclosed. He made the revelation on Friday while speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television.
The minister explained that the figure is an estimate due to the dynamic nature of displacement in the country. “The issue of displacement in our country is a dynamic one. People are being resettled while new cases emerge,” Doro said.
Doro noted that most individuals residing in IDP camps have been properly documented, and the government has access to the majority of them. He emphasized that while the figure is not exact, the broad estimate of 3.7 million provides a working understanding of the scale of displacement.
He highlighted that displacement is not static, with movements occurring daily as people are resettled and new cases recorded across different regions. This constant flux makes it challenging to provide an exact count of IDPs at any given time.
Despite the challenges, the minister reassured that government authorities have access to most of those living in camps and are working to monitor and support displaced populations nationwide.