Nigeria is grappling with a worsening humanitarian emergency as about 3.6 million people are internally displaced, with the figure potentially exceeding 8 million, raising concerns over the food security and economy. This was revealed by Richard Ikiebe, president of iNSDEC.Nig and director at PSJ-UK, who warned that the country is witnessing a “nation within a nation” of displaced citizens driven from their homes by insecurity, banditry and communal violence. Speaking at the PSJ-UK Roundtable on Peace, Security and Justice in London, Ikiebe said: “Nigeria today hosts one of the largest internally displaced populations in Africa… approximately 3.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs)” , adding that the figure represents about three per cent of the world’s displaced population. He noted, however, that the official data may understate the scale of the crisis. “Some UN-affiliated reports placed the figure at over 8 million Nigerians displaced by mid-2025,” he said. The displacement, he explained, is being fuelled not only by insurgency in the North-East but also by escalating violence in the North-West and North-Central regions, where banditry and communal conflicts have intensified. According to Ikiebe, the board chairman of BusinessDay, the situation is deteriorating, with new displacements recorded almost daily. “In 2024 alone, an estimated 295,000 new internal displacements… nearly a thousand new displaced persons every single day,” he said. The policy expert raised concerns that most displaced persons are not housed in formal camps, making them largely invisible to policymakers. He said, “the vast majority (81%)… are absorbed into already stressed host communities… living in informal settlements… with no clear pathway back to normalcy”. He described the typical Nigerian IDP as rural farmers, women and children who have lost livelihoods and face heightened risks including hunger, exploitation and lack of access to education. The keynote speaker criticised what he described as a policy imbalance by the government, accusing authorities of prioritising the rehabilitation of former insurgents over victims. “Why does the government appear more committed to the rehabilitation of those who created the crisis than to those who are the victims of it?” he queried. He cited government spending on the Operation Safe Corridor programme, noting that billions of naira have been allocated to rehabilitate repentant insurgents, while support for displaced persons remains inadequate. On resettlement efforts, Ikiebe warned that current strategies are unsafe and premature. He referenced a deadly attack on a resettled community, stating: “This is not resettlement. It is abandonment,” after over 60 civilians were killed in a 2025 attack on returnees. Beyond the humanitarian toll, he highlighted the economic consequences of mass displacement, particularly in agriculture. According to him, insecurity has crippled food production, with some states experiencing sharp declines. “Agricultural production has plummeted by 35% in Zamfara and Katsina,” he said, warning that the disruption of farming activities is worsening food insecurity nationwide. He added that insecurity is costing Nigeria heavily, with estimates showing losses running into billions annually and millions at risk of hunger. “Nearly 35 million Nigerians are projected to face acute food insecurity in 2026,” he said. Ikiebe called for urgent government action, including stronger security in rural areas, increased funding for IDPs, and an end to forced resettlement into unsafe communities. The board chairman also urged the international community and Nigerian diaspora to play a more active role in addressing the crisis. He added that the response to the crisis would ultimately define the country’s commitment to its citizens, warning that the time to act is now. Taofeek Oyedokun Taofeek Oyedokun is a correspondent at BusinessDay with years of experience reporting on political economy, public policy, migration, environment/climate change, and social justice. A graduate of Political Science from the University of Lagos, he has also earned multiple professional certificates in journalism and media-related training. Known for his clear, data-driven reporting, Oyedokun covers a wide range of national and international socioeconomic issues, bringing depth, balance, and public-interest focus to his work. Share