UNHCR has been present in Nigeria since 1978, working with the Nigerian Government, partners, and other United Nations Agencies to uphold the rights and wellbeing of refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), refugee returnees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons. The operational context in Nigeria continues to be dominated by the protracted humanitarian crisis linked to ongoing insurgency in the North-East, conflicts between herders and farmers in the Middle Belt, as well as communal clashes in many parts of the country. The crisis in North-East Nigeria has shown little signs of abating, despite the Government’s efforts to regain full control of territories formerly occupied by Non-State Armed Groups (NSAG).
The first half of 2020 witnessed a major escalation in hostilities between the military and various armed factions. Civilians, especially women and children, continued to bear the brunt of these hostilities. Humanitarian actors and assets were increasingly targeted. More than a decade into the crisis, the protracted nature of displacement for a significant majority of the IDPs has eroded coping mechanisms, significantly weakened resilience, and heightened vulnerabilities. 57% of the IDPs are estimated to be below 18 years; 39% between 18 and 59 years; and 4% above 60 years. An estimated 47% of IDPs live in 288 camps and camp-like settings and 53% live in host communities.
According to IOM, about 2 million IDPs (461,000 women, 371,000 men, 590,000 girls and 499,000 boys), have been displaced as of November 2020, and 904,157 are in IDP camps. An estimated 91% of the displacement is attributed to ongoing conflict with over 74% of displaced people in Borno State.
UNHCR and the Government of Nigeria also registered refugees in the South-South - over 63,000 Cameroonians as the result of continuing crisis in the North-West and South-West of Cameroon which started in 2017. The majority of refugees are hosted in Cross River, Taraba and Benue States. Subsequently, UNHCR established its presence near the refugee settlements where the Government of Nigeria has provided land for the establishment of three refugee settlements to facilitate access to services like health and education. However, these refugee hosting areas are in regions that have weak social services, reduced economic opportunities for self-reliance, and very limited access to electricity, water, sanitation and health services.
Nigeria also hosts 2,887 recognized refugees of other nationalities and 2,788 asylum-seekers who live in urban areas across the South, Central and North of the country.
Urban refugees in Nigeria live in cities including Lagos, Ijebu, Abuja, Kano and many other States. They originate from 21 countries with a majority from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Syria, Turkey and Mali. An estimated 50% have been in Nigeria for eight to 15 years. 1,436 of the 2,788 asylum-seekers are from Niger and were only formally registered in Damasak in December 2020.
According to the OCHA situation report of July 2020, the number of people in need of urgent assistance in North-East Nigeria rose from 7.9 million at the beginning of 2020 to 10.6 million since the onset of COVID-19. Since then, the protection environment for internally displaced people, returnees and host community members in North-East Nigeria has been further seriously challenged in a high-risk context for the spread of the disease in the camps and communities. Even before the pandemic, protection incidents particularly gender-based violence (gender-based violence) as well as sexual exploitation and abuse had remained a major protection concern, despite sustained efforts in terms of prevention and response.