In a resounding appeal for decisive action on behalf of displaced Nigerians, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to furnish detailed data on Nigeria’s internally displaced citizens. Kalu’s request follows a surge in natural disasters – particularly flooding and erosion – that have forced thousands from their homes, leaving many struggling to survive across Nigeria and neighbouring regions.
During a Wednesday visit from Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Kalu underscored the urgency of the situation, calling for the commission to deliver a comprehensive report on the status and needs of displaced Nigerians. “The climate is at war with us,” Kalu remarked, emphasizing the profound impact of climate-induced displacement. “Agencies like yours must understand this crisis goes beyond the surface. Beyond Maiduguri, a lot more is happening across the country.”
The Deputy Speaker outlined the need for dedicated funding, urging an intervention fund for conducting a thorough needs analysis. Such a report, Kalu noted, would be crucial for informed budget planning, stating, “Let the commission have an intervention fund dedicated to doing the proper needs analysis so that as we do the budget, we look into it. This is part of the oversight function.”
In a further push for accountability and transparency, Kalu gave the commission a two-week deadline to deliver the report, which will be shared with the Budget Office of the Federation. He expressed concerns over the commission’s existing budget, calling it insufficient to address the needs of the growing displaced population.
“How prepared are you?” Kalu asked, referencing last year’s budget of N1.6 billion. “I have not seen the commission bringing this plight to light in the parliament or to Nigerians. There are so many people suffering due to climate change, and parliament needs a complete analysis on the scale of displacement.”
Responding to the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed pledged to provide the requested report within the two-week timeframe and appealed for greater financial support to meet the mounting needs of displaced Nigerians. “We will ensure these individuals who are our own are returned,” Ahmed said, promising to document both refugees and internally displaced persons in a way that conveys the commission’s funding challenges.
As Nigeria grapples with the realities of climate change, Kalu’s calls for robust data and funding represent a push for actionable policy responses and heightened parliamentary engagement with the plight of the displaced.
