Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government over the deplorable living conditions of more than 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sokoto State.

Obi, who spoke after visiting an IDP camp during his two-day stay in the state, said it was unacceptable for displaced Nigerians to live in makeshift shelters and thatched rooms without basic amenities.

He said some of the shelters were overcrowded while the camp lacked adequate toilet facilities, a primary healthcare centre and a basic school for children.

“I have always insisted that as long as even one Nigerian lives in an IDP camp, we are all internally displaced,” Obi said in a statement posted on his social media page.

The former Anambra State governor urged the government to urgently improve conditions at the camp and address the insecurity that forced residents to abandon their communities.

Obi said his visit to the Sokoto camp was his 12th visit to an IDP camp, adding that he would continue to support Nigerians displaced by insecurity.

He also criticised the country’s political leadership, saying elected officials should spend their holidays within Nigeria to witness firsthand the difficulties faced by vulnerable citizens.

According to him, government must prioritise critical areas of development and respond urgently to the needs of displaced Nigerians.

He said his engagements across Sokoto also highlighted insecurity, the rising number of out-of-school children, poverty, youth unemployment, and drug abuse as challenges requiring urgent government attention.