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| Photo credit — Peter Obi |
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has described the living conditions of more than 1,000 internally displaced persons at the Ramin Kura IDP Camp in Sokoto as distressing and called for urgent government action.
Obi visited the camp in Sokoto North Local Government Area during a two-day trip to the state. In a statement shared on his social media platforms, he highlighted the makeshift shelters and thatched rooms in which many residents live, noting that some rooms accommodate as many as 10 people. He also pointed to inadequate toilet facilities, the absence of a primary healthcare centre, and the lack of a basic school for children at the camp.
“I have always insisted that as long as even one Nigerian lives in an IDP camp, we are all internally displaced,” Obi said. He urged authorities to improve temporary accommodation while tackling the security problems that forced people from their communities, so that residents can eventually return to their ancestral homes.
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Obi described the Sokoto stop as his 12th visit to an IDP camp in Nigeria and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting displaced people.
He criticised aspects of political leadership, arguing that elected officials should spend holidays within the country to witness firsthand the difficulties faced by vulnerable citizens. He further called for prioritisation of critical development needs and action on insecurity, out-of-school children, poverty, youth unemployment, and drug prevalence—issues he said featured in his broader engagements across Sokoto State.
Broader context on displacement in Nigeria
Internally displaced persons camps have become a persistent feature of life in parts of the country amid prolonged insecurity, particularly in the North-West, North-East, and North-Central regions. Families displaced by banditry, terrorism, or communal violence often face overcrowding, limited sanitation, restricted access to healthcare and education, and uncertain prospects of return. Reports from various camps over the years have repeatedly flagged similar gaps in basic services.
Obi’s repeated visits to such sites form part of a pattern of public engagement on the humanitarian impact of insecurity. By framing the presence of even one IDP as a collective national concern, he links individual hardship to questions of governance, security, and shared responsibility. Whether such statements translate into policy pressure or practical improvements depends on government response and sustained attention beyond high-profile visits.
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Why conditions in camps matter
Adequate shelter, sanitation, healthcare, and schooling are minimum requirements for dignity and for preventing further vulnerability, especially for children and women. Prolonged stays in under-resourced camps can worsen poverty cycles, disrupt education, and complicate eventual reintegration. Addressing root causes—primarily insecurity that forces people from their homes—remains the longer-term necessity alongside immediate humanitarian improvements.
Obi’s call for political leaders to experience conditions on the ground reflects a wider debate about empathy, priorities, and accountability in public office. At the same time, lasting solutions require coordinated security, development, and humanitarian efforts rather than visits or statements alone.
The situation at Ramin Kura underscores ongoing challenges facing many displaced Nigerians. Improving camp conditions while working to restore security so people can return home safely remains an urgent national task.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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