Southeast accounts for 268,000 IDPs due to ecological disaster – Kalu

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, says the South East geo-political zone accounts for no fewer than 268,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to ecological disaster.

Speaking at a Roundtable Discussion with International non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in a programme titled “Through Their Eyes: A Call To Action, Addressing Humanitarian Challenges In The South East” in Abuja on Monday, he explained that the States of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi are the most affected, with many people lacking access to clean water, adequate shelter, healthcare, and education.

He added that the IDPs are spread across 158 camps and affected communities with precarious living conditions leaving many without access to clean water, adequate shelter, healthcare, and education.

He said shelter, in particular, remains a pressing concern. Families who live in makeshift camps or overcrowded host communities are exposed to health risks, insecurity, and a loss of dignity.

He added that natural disasters like gully erosion have destroyed homes, leaving little to return to, adding that the crisis demands immediate intervention and sustainable strategies to restore stability and hope.

Organized by the Office of the Deputy Speaker in conjunction with the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), the purpose of the roundtable discussion is to essentially explore avenues for deeper partnerships, to engender resilience, and to deliver sustainable solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing ecological issues.

The Deputy Speaker said that the crisis in the Southeast region is characterized by displacement, violence, and ecological challenges, including natural disasters like gully erosion that have destroyed homes and left many without shelter.

Kalu who emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to provide immediate humanitarian relief and sustainable development solutions therefore called for support from international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and government agencies to address the crisis.

In their separate remarks, the head of INGOs in Nigeria, Camilla Higgins; the Director-General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed; the national coordinator of National Social Investment Programme Agency; Dr. Badamasi Lawal; the Director-General of National Refugees Commission and Migrants, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed; representatives of the Directors-General of National Directorate of Employment ( NDE) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) who were overwhelmed by the degree of ecological challenges and human crisis in the South East region arising from a video documentary pledged their respective commitments to collaborate with the Office of the Deputy Speaker to address the menace.

They appealed for an increase in their budgetary allocation in 2025 to enable them to function optimally in their constitutional mandates.