Date: 2016-11-15

Efforts to improve care and rehabilitate internally displaced persons in Nigeria took a new dimension as a Nigerian Peace Scholar, Lawyer and Consultant to Nigerian Senate Committee on Constitutional Review- Dr Biola Adimula- presented a 4-phasestrategy at the 39th annual conference of the FulbrightAssociation, held at George Washington University, United States.

The 4-phase strategy presented on the global platform coveys a comprehensive and sustainablestrategy to ending the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria, thereby preventing future escalation.

Adimula stated that large population- overcrowded accommodation in tents, muds, bricks, wooden; lack of structure in terms of care of IDPs, poor access to facilities in IDPs camps; and lack of concrete arrangement for IDPs reintegration are the four broad challenges facing IDPs in Nigeria.

In addressing these challenges, she proposed a four-phase strategy, viz: After-Shock, Stabilization, Empowerment and Reintegration phases of IDPs.She explained that After-shock-IDP-Phase-1 is the immediate period after the occurrence of event and consciousness of severe human and material loses. IDPs at this stage experience trauma and they need psycho-social interventions. Stabilisation-IDP-Phase-2: is the phase of settlement into a camp/family routine, with predictable system of meeting basic needs. IDPs experience idleness at this stage and they require protection from gender-based violence. Empowerment-IDP-Phase-3: this is the stage of acquisition of vocational and basic management skills towards economic independence. IDPs need to be trained and equipped economically towards self/family sustenance. Reintegration-Post-IDP-Phase: being the phase of coordinated exit from the camp and reintegration into the society as self-sustaining individuals; here the government need to formulate a comprehensive roadmap for resettlement and integration of IDPs back into the society. According to her, this proposed strategy will bring better streamlined camp management structure for efficient co-ordination; effective management of available inadequate resources only to those in specific need, and efficient control of the flow of people in the camp- toward a systematic exit from camps and reintegration into the society. This development was highly welcomed by the Fulbright Association in Washington.

Adimula is a Peace Scholar at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. She has been working in the area of refugees and IDPs in various parts of West Africa and recorded significant milestones.