The Nigerian Senate has successfully passed for third reading the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) (Domestication and Enforcement) Bill, 2025.
This marks a significant step towards the formal domestication of the Kampala Convention into Nigeria’s national legal framework.
Originally adopted by the African Union (AU) in 2009, the Kampala Convention is a landmark regional treaty designed to provide comprehensive protection and assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Africa.
The convention outlines a structured approach to prevent displacement, support displaced populations, and promote sustainable and long-term solutions, including safe return, local integration, or resettlement.
Although Nigeria signed the convention in 2009, it has not been effectively domesticated into local legislation until now.
The lack of domestication has often limited Nigeria’s capacity to fully implement the treaty’s provisions in addressing internal displacement caused by conflict, natural disasters, and other factors.
The push for domestication gained momentum with the sponsorship of the bill by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who expressed deep concern over the growing number and vulnerability of IDPs in the country.
The bill was initially passed by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.
During the plenary session on Tuesday, the Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, presented a detailed report recommending the passage of the bill.
He explained, “This bill was first introduced in the Senate on Tuesday, 10th December 2024. Its purpose is to domesticate and enforce in Nigeria the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons. It also seeks to address and eliminate the root causes of internal displacement within Nigeria.
“This is in accordance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and other relevant national laws and international obligations to which Nigeria is a signatory.”
Following Senator Opeyemi’s presentation, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole, where each of the bill’s 46 clauses—including the explanatory memorandum and long title—was carefully considered. The session was presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau.
After a thorough clause-by-clause review, the bill was unanimously passed by the Senate. With this legislative milestone, Nigeria is now on the verge of aligning its domestic legal system with continental efforts to provide better protection and assistance to its internally displaced population.
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