President Bola Tinubu, has signed into law the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), also known as the Kampala Convention, to strengthen humanitarian protection and uphold the rights and dignity of displaced citizens.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu says the bill, standing in the name of Benjamin Kalu as lead sponsor alongside six other lawmakers, land received presidential assent in February, seeks to ĺdomesticate and enforce in Nigeria the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons.
It also seeks to eliminate the roots causes of internal displacement in Nigeria in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and other relevant laws and international instruments to which Nigeria is a party, including the ratification launched by 32 African Union countries during the Kampala Convention in 2009.
The statement noted that the domestication of the Kampala Convention marks a significant step towards protecting IDPs in Nigeria as it is expected to check overcrowded, under-resourced shelters, limited access to healthcare and education.
In his reaction to the development, the Deputy Speaker commended President Tinubu for signing the bill into law, stating that he has given a human face to the suffering of IDPs, demonstrating his commitment to addressing their plight, urging Nigerians to support the efforts of the government in implementing the Kampala Convention.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
