The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create farming clusters for IDPs and migrants across Nigeria.
The agreement, signed in Abuja on Wednesday under the Renewed Hope Restoration Project, which aims to improve the living conditions of IDPs and migrants. This initiative, led by NALDA and NCFRMI, focuses on establishing sustainable settlements for displaced communities. The project will cover land areas between 1,000 and 2,000 hectares in selected states, including Oyo, Katsina, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Abia, and Cross River.
The primary goal is to create job opportunities for IDPs and migrants by involving them in farming activities, providing the resources necessary to rebuild their lives, and contributing to Nigeria’s food security.
At the signing ceremony, Cornelius Adebayo, Executive Secretary of NALDA, emphasized that the partnership was a clear commitment from President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address the challenges faced by refugees, migrants, and IDPs. He highlighted that the project not only offers physical space for growth but also provides the tools, resources, and opportunities needed to promote self-reliance and restore hope.
“For us, we are more than just an agency; we are a catalyst for change in realizing the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President,” Adebayo said.
Tijani Ahmed, Federal Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of NCFRMI, expressed that the partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter in offering sustainable, long-term solutions to Nigeria’s IDP crisis.
Internal displaced Monitoring center recorded around 3.3 million people were living in internal displacement as a result of conflict and violence at the end of 2023, about half of them in Borno state. This was a slight decrease from the 3.6 million reported in 2022, but Nigeria was still among the ten countries with the largest number of IDPs globally.
