President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), widely known as the Kampala Convention, in a move aimed at strengthening humanitarian protection and safeguarding the rights and dignity of displaced citizens across Nigeria.

The legislation, titled “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, alongside six co-sponsors: Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Khadijat Bukar Ibrahim, Blessing Onuh, Nasiru Shehu, Felix Uche Nwaeke, and Steve Fatoba.

The Act, which was earlier passed by both chambers of the National Assembly of Nigeria—the Senate and the House of Representatives—seeks to domesticate and enforce the provisions of the AU convention designed to protect and assist internally displaced persons.

Nigeria was among 32 African countries that adopted the convention in 2009 during the Kampala meeting under the African Union. The domestication of the treaty is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for preventing displacement, protecting IDPs, and providing durable solutions to the crisis.

The law outlines measures to prevent and eliminate the root causes of displacement, ensure protection of the human rights of IDPs in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), and define the responsibilities of government agencies and non-state actors in responding to displacement.

It also provides a comprehensive and gender-responsive framework for national coordination, humanitarian assistance, and collaboration among relevant stakeholders to support displaced populations.

Nigeria currently faces one of Africa’s largest displacement crises, with millions forced from their homes due to the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, banditry, farmer-herder clashes, and natural disasters. Many displaced persons live in overcrowded and under-resourced camps with limited access to healthcare, education, and security.

Reacting to the development, Deputy Speaker Kalu commended President Tinubu for signing the legislation into law, saying the move demonstrates the administration’s commitment to addressing the plight of displaced citizens.

He urged Nigerians to support government efforts to implement the convention effectively.

“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 addressing the root causes of displacement,” he said.

The domestication of the Kampala Convention is widely seen as a major step toward improving protection mechanisms and humanitarian support for internally displaced persons across the country.