The Nigerian Senate has passed the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Bill, 2025, for its third reading, marking a critical legislative step toward the domestication of the Kampala Convention into national law. The bill, which seeks to provide a legal framework for the protection, assistance, and reintegration of IDPs in Nigeria, was sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, CFR.
Originally signed by Nigeria in 2009, the Kampala Convention is a landmark African Union treaty aimed at addressing the causes and consequences of internal displacement across the continent. Despite being one of the early signatories, Nigeria had yet to incorporate the treaty into its domestic legal system—until now. The passage of this bill closes that gap and gives the convention the force of law within the country.
Presenting the bill during plenary on Tuesday, Senate Leader Sen. Bamidele Opeyemi explained its importance, emphasizing that it aligns with Nigeria’s constitutional obligations and international commitments. “This bill seeks to domesticate and enforce the African Union Convention for the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons and the elimination of the root causes of internal displacement in Nigeria,” he stated. He urged his colleagues to support the bill, which had already gone through extensive legislative scrutiny in the House of Representatives.
Following his remarks, the bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole, where the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, presided over a detailed clause-by-clause consideration. A total of 46 clauses, along with the explanatory memorandum and long title, were read out and unanimously adopted by the Senate, paving the way for the bill’s final passage.
The passage of this legislation comes at a crucial time, as Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the highest numbers of internally displaced persons in Africa, largely due to conflict, natural disasters, and development projects. With the domestication of the Kampala Convention, Nigeria is now legally bound to prevent displacement, provide protection and humanitarian aid to IDPs, and pursue durable solutions for their resettlement or reintegration.
