…describes the passage of the Kampala Convention Bill as a monumental legislative achievement.
ABUJA — The iNews Times | The Kampala Convention Bill has attracted praise from a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across Nigeria, which commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, for his pivotal role in steering the successful passage of the legislation domesticating the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons.
The coalition, operating under the auspices of the Movement of Nigeria Coalitions, described the passage of the Kampala Convention Bill as a monumental legislative achievement that reflects a genuine commitment to humanitarian values and the protection of Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens.
The group also commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the bill into law and urged him to direct relevant ministries and agencies to commence swift implementation.
The Kampala Convention Bill, which represents the first legislation assented to in the current legislative cycle concerning the domestication of the Kampala Convention, is widely regarded as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s commitment to international humanitarian obligations.
Adopted by the African Union in 2009, the Kampala Convention is the first legally binding regional instrument on internal displacement. It establishes a comprehensive framework for preventing displacement, providing timely assistance to displaced persons, and ensuring durable solutions for their voluntary return, local integration, or resettlement.
Although Nigeria signed the convention in 2009, the formal domestication of its provisions into national law had long remained an unfulfilled obligation.
With the passage of the Kampala Convention Bill, stakeholders say Nigeria has now taken a decisive and overdue step toward aligning its legal framework with international commitments. The CSOs credited Kalu’s legislative determination as central to the breakthrough.
Meanwhile, leaders of various CSOs, Dahiru Ahmad of RLPP, John Paul Nwaobinna of the Youth Arise Initiative for Good Governance, and Kemi Babayanju of the Bridge Builders Initiative for Development praised Kalu for championing the bill’s passage and for consistently amplifying the voices of Nigeria’s internally displaced persons at both national and international platforms.
They also noted that Kalu recently participated as a distinguished panelist at a high-level United Nations virtual event marking the 27th anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internally Displaced Persons, where he briefed the international community on Nigeria’s efforts to address the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
According to the coalition, the invitation underscored the growing global recognition of Kalu’s humanitarian advocacy.
The CSO leaders further noted that Kalu’s legislative interests have consistently transcended partisan lines, covering national development, women’s rights, youth empowerment, and inclusive governance.
“His work on the Kampala Convention Bill reflects a lawmaker who does not merely occupy public office but actively uses it as an instrument of transformation for the most marginalised segments of society,” the group said.
Beyond commending the Deputy Speaker, the coalition urged members of the National Assembly to draw inspiration from Kalu’s legislative activism.
They called on federal lawmakers to prioritise bills and policies that directly address the humanitarian needs of citizens, particularly vulnerable populations, including the millions of Nigerians living as internally displaced persons due to insurgency, communal conflicts, flooding, and other crises.
The CSOs stressed that Nigeria’s enormous legislative challenges require lawmakers who move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate practical commitment through the sponsorship and passage of impactful legislation.
“Nigeria currently hosts one of the largest IDP populations on the African continent, with millions displaced by the decade-long Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, farmer-herder conflicts, and recurring natural disasters.
“The domestication of the Kampala Convention is therefore not merely a legislative formality; it is a lifeline. It places binding legal obligations on the government to protect, assist, and provide durable solutions for displaced citizens, while establishing clearer standards for accountability,” they said.
The coalition added that the domestication would strengthen Nigeria’s engagement with international humanitarian organisations, unlock technical and financial support for IDP programmes, and signal to the global community that Nigeria remains committed to upholding the dignity and rights of displaced persons.
