Author(s) :

NASA’I Muhammad Gwadabe, PhD, DAYYABU Ahmed .

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Internal displacement in Northeast Nigeria, driven by the protracted insurgency of Boko Haram, remains a significant humanitarian challenge, displacing over two million people since 2009. In response, the Nigerian government has implemented a range of interventions, including the establishment of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, emergency relief distribution, and resettlement programmes. However, the effectiveness of these interventions remains contested. This study critically examines the nature, effectiveness, and limitations of the government’s response to internal displacement in Northeast Nigeria. Adopting a qualitative case study design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 purposively selected participants and supplemented with secondary sources. The analysis was guided by the Cluster Approach framework and the theory of Sovereignty as Responsibility, while thematic analysis was employed to interpret the data. The findings reveal that although the government demonstrated commitment across key humanitarian sectors: food and nutrition, healthcare, WASH, shelter, protection, and resettlement, its response was largely reactive, fragmented, and characterised by weak coordination, inadequate institutional capacity, and short-term planning. These limitations have resulted in significant gaps in service delivery, contributing to prolonged displacement and inadequate living conditions among internally displaced persons. The study concludes that the government’s response reflects a combination of commitment and ineffectiveness, with a persistent gap between policy intentions and humanitarian outcomes. It recommends strengthening institutional coordination, enhancing accountability, and adopting sustainable, rights-based approaches to displacement management. The study contributes to debates on humanitarian response of state in conflict-affected settings. Keywords: Internal Displacement, Government Response, Northeast Nigeria, Humanitarian Intervention, Boko Haram, IDPs

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