CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE RIGHTS OF THE DISPLACED PERSONS IN THE COURSE OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN NIGERIA

CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE RIGHTS OF THE DISPLACED PERSONS IN THE COURSE OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the rights of internally displaced persons in Nigeria. The issue of internally displaced persons has been a central issue among nations in recent times, especially in the early 90s. The study evaluated the right of IDPs in Nigeria and the challenges faced by the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.

The study adopted the qualitative approach of study whereby archival facts, periodicals, fact books, and news sources were utilized. The study applied human needs theory which addresses the visibility of meeting parties’ needs while also considering the expectations of others in it.

The findings revealed that competition between pastoralists and farmers has caused tensions, leading to significant levels of violence and displacement, and conflict has also emerged in several states in North West Nigeria linked to banditry and criminal violence.

The study concluded that IDPs are not aware that flight destinations affect (whether positively or negatively) their access to humanitarian aid. Although the humanitarian intervention of the government and other actors have targeted IDPs in formal camps because they have been identified and classified as a vulnerable population, IDPs within host communities are hidden groups of the same vulnerable displaced population. The study, therefore, recommended that the government should create a mechanism to verify IDP status, such that they are catered for by the government irrespective of where they decide to resettle. The study also recommends that government should see to the enforcement of the rights of these internally displaced persons in Nigeria.

 

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

• BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The issue of internally displaced persons has been a central issue among nations in recent times, especially in the early 90s. This is a result of the increasing waves of incidents leading to forced displacement of populations that are products of conflicts such as (ethnic, religious, economic, and boundary conflicts), communal classes, and natural and manmade disasters amongst others with their attendant massive destruction to lives and properties.

Globally, during the last decade, the estimated number of internally displaced persons as a result of armed conflict and generalized violence, excluding natural disasters and development-induced displacement has been estimated to be 25 million (FGN, 2012). With Africa accounting for more than half of the global displacement, global attention has repeatedly been drawn to the growing danger which may upsurge the little gain recorded in the Millennium Development Goal.

According to OCHA (2003), a set of guiding principles was seen as the prevention and management of internal displacement by nations all over the world, and as a guide to all governmental and non-governmental humanitarian actors working with internally displaced persons. Both the concept and meaning of IDPs are derived from legal connotations. Ladan (2006) is of the view that displaced persons under international law, are persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to have cause to leave their homes or places of habitual residence in particular, due to or to stave off the effects of armed conflict, military engagement, violations of human rights, situations of generalized violence, natural or manmade disasters, to another place considered relatively safe within their national borders. This, displacement may also extend to the construction and development of projects Robinson (2003), although sympathetic attention and international aid usually center around those displaced by disasters than victims of project development.

Thus, if persecuted individuals cross their national border, an elaborate system of international law and institutions comes into play for their protection, however, if these individuals remain within the national border they are considered refugees, and hence are not entitled to such protection. Internally Displaced Persons may be given ADHOC protection if the United Nations General Assembly requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to render its ‘good office’ to assist, or if the Security Council so directs.

 

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The problem of displaced persons has in recent years become a global concern with its implications (Laden, 2001). It is on record that the total number of displaced persons is currently estimated at around fifty million worldwide, with the majority of these people in Africa and Asia (Olobo & Obaji, 2016). Displacement across the country of Nigeria is a result of communal violence, internal armed conflicts, and natural disasters such as floods.

In any conflict situation and particularly those with ethnic or religious underpinnings, the humanitarian needs are immense and the means to satisfy those needs within the conflict area are severely limited. Internally displaced civilian populations move from one place to another seeking safety and protection inside their own country. Forced population movements resulting in mass exoduses constitute by their way nature infringements on international human rights and humanitarian law. In Nigeria, conflicts arising from the activities of Boko Haram in the North East and Fulani Herdsmen have resulted in high threats to lives and properties, the death of thousands of displacement of millions of people (Kasali, 2016).

Contrary to the expectation of the world population, the new world order has been characterized by more unstable and turbulent conflict situations, unhealthy power politics, destructive ethnic insurgencies, national rivalries, religious bigotry, government hypocrisy, and endemic poverty, manufactured by globalization.

It is on record that, the expectation of the global population, resulting from the immediate liquidation of the Cold War consequent on the collapse of the Soviet Union towards the tail end of the 1980s were dashed (Deng, 1994). Many people across the world thought that the new world order would bring the desired peace to the entire world, enabling acculturation of development attitude to the world through the membership of a particular social group or political opinion outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is willing to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his(or her) farmer habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.

The magical framework of integration and mutual aspiration of world state actors soon realized that the new world order is not circled the pursuit of peace and development, but the continuation of hostility in another dimension (Hamzat, 2016). The challenges facing the internally displaced persons include but are not limited to insecurity, trauma, bitterness, hunger and starvation, acute malnutrition, sexually transmitted diseases, lack of education, lack of good shelter/accommodation, waste management and electricity, lack of good water, hindrance in exercising their rights as IDPs, etc(Azam, 2009). In the hostility dimension of the new world, these challenges listed by (Azam, 2009) are factually serious issues confronting Internally Displaced Persons in their camps, and very paramount is their basic rights being violated.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to investigate the right of IDPs in Nigeria. Specifically, the study seeks to:

• examine the various rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs);
• identify the challenges of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs);
• interrogate the involvement of NGOs in the management of IDPs in Nigeria;
• evaluate the efforts of the Nigerian government in the protection of the rights of IDPs

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions will be used as a guide to achieving the research objectives:
i. How have the rights of IDPs been thoroughly investigated
ii. What are the rights of IDPs in Nigeria?
iii. What are the various challenges facing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)?
iv. How have the NGOs been involved in the management of the IDPs in Nigeria?
vi. What effort has the Nigerian government made the protection the rights of IDPs?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more about this topic and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a benchmark or guide for other work or studies. It avails individuals with information on internally displaced persons and their rights. This study would also serve as reference material for the government when finding means of how causes of displaced persons can be completely abolished or reduced to a reasonable number.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This topic will cover the occurrence of displaced persons in Nigeria especially in the northern part of the country and the federal capital territory, Abuja. The research will be carried out during the academic year from November 2019 to April 2020; the action research will be done in March at Durumi Area1 IDP Camp, Abuja. The research will therefore create insight into the rights of internally displaced persons within the country.

1.7 METHODOLOGY

The method of data collection would be qualitative since it involves the collection and analysis of information from internally displaced persons in Nigeria. It will also rely solely on secondary materials such as books, journals, articles, reports, news items, the internet, and all further occurrences during this project. These materials will be used in analyzing and helping to gain more understanding of this subject matter to determine areas in which new literature can be developed.

The international and Nigerian newspapers will also provide an essential source of information, particularly about specific displaced persons’ incidents. The information obtained from this research work would be analyzed and the findings will be deduced to provide an appropriate conclusion.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Internally displaced persons: An internally displaced person (IDP) is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country’s borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the legal definitions of a refugee.
Refugee: a person who has been forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
Communal violence: Communal violence is a form of violence that is perpetrated across ethnic or communal lines, the violent parties feel solidarity for their respective groups, and victims are chosen based on group membership.
Conflict: Conflict is a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.
Refugees: are regular people who, through no fault of their own, have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety.

CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE RIGHTS OF THE DISPLACED PERSONS IN THE COURSE OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN NIGERIA

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