Abuja, Nigeria, 16 February 2026 – In a major step toward resolving protracted displacement in Nigeria’s Northwest, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Northwest Governors Forum and the Governments of Katsina and Zamfara States, with technical and coordination support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), officially launched the State-Level Adoption of the National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the corresponding State Action Plans (SAPs) on Durable Solutions.

Zamfara and Katsina States continue to face some of the most significant displacement challenges in Nigeria. The scale and protracted nature of these crises highlight the urgent need for coordinated development-oriented solutions. The State Action Plans(SAP) on Durable Solutions were developed in response to this need. They serve as comprehensive, government-led frameworks that move beyond short-term humanitarian relief toward long-term recovery, resilience-building, and sustainable reintegration. Each SAP provides a clear, costed, and context-specific roadmap to guide interventions across key sectors, ensure strengthened governance, and support voluntary, safe, and dignified pathways for return, local integration, or relocation. 

Zamfara State’s SAP outlines a strategic and operational approach to restoring stability, dignity, and opportunity for IDPs, returnees, and host communities. It emphasizes a transition from emergency assistance to coordinated, long-term recovery, with priorities in security, social cohesion, economic revitalization, and governance strengthening. Speaking at the launch, H.E. Dauda Lawal Dare, Zamfara State Governor, underscored the significance of the policy: “The policy affirms something fundamental beyond recovery, it reflects that displacement must never be permanent and by states working together we can take regional accountability and benefit from learning, as we strive to achieve sustained durable solutions.” He reaffirmed the states commitment under his leadership by making it clear that: “In Zamfara State, displacement will be a chapter we close and not a condition we will accept.”

Katsina State’s SAP is a comprehensive, multi-sector, rights-based framework that bridges immediate humanitarian response with long-term sustainable development. It provides structured pathways for safe return, local integration, or planned relocation, grounded in the principles of safety, dignity, and informed choice. Addressing government and development partners, H.E. Dikko Umaru Radda, Katsina State Governor, underscored the importance of strategic partnerships and coordinated regional efforts in achieving meaningful outcomes: "Displacement is not a challenge any single state can tackle in isolation. We recognize that its impact extends beyond Katsina and Zamfara, and therefore, a sustained, region-wide approach is essential.”

In her remarks Ms.Elsie G. Attafuah, UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative highlighted the significance of addressing displacement as a factor affecting development and the direct linkages: “We have learned that displacement does not have to define a community’s future. With strong systems, effective coordination, and predictable financing, it is possible to move from crisis toward opportunity, from uncertainty toward stability. Ms. Attafuah further added that, "These State Action Plans give us that pathway. They are not just plans -  they are state-owned platforms for recovery, resilience, and investment readiness.They align durable solutions with broader development priorities of each state, from livelihoods and service delivery to social cohesion and institutional strengthening.”

The official launch of the National IDP Policy and the State Action Plans, marks a critical transition from policy formulation to state-led implementation, underscoring renewed political commitment to addressing internal displacement across the North-West. It also provides a template for other states in the North-West and nationally to domesticate and operationalise the National IDP Policy. represent a significant advancement in Nigeria’s commitment to durable solutions. They signal a shared determination to restore safety, rebuild essential services, strengthen local governance, and ensure that displaced families can rebuild their lives through voluntary return, local integration, or relocation. The launch marks a new era of state-driven, inclusive, and sustainable action to address internal displacement in the North-West.