THE occurrences of disasters often result in displacement of persons. Therefore, the global increases in the number and magnitude of disasters have directly led to increasing human displacements.

The Geneva- based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre estimates that between October 2010 and October 2011 about 42 million people were displaced worldwide and 27.5 million by conflict and violence.

Africa is said to be the worst hit by the number of the displaced from conflicts and violence, estimated to stand at about 11.1 million persons. Globally, the largest IDP populations can be found in Colombia, the DRC, Iraq, Sudan and Azerbaijan each with IDP populations of over one million. Though there can be no exact figure on the total survey on internal displacement, these statistics are not static, but constantly on the increase.

Nigeria has also had cause to contend with the issues of internally displaced persons who were affected by disasters in different parts of the country. However, the number of those affected by human induced disasters far outweighed those from natural circumstances such as floods, landslides, ocean surges, fire, etc. The last period of about 20 years ago witnessed a serious number of persons displaced by conflicts and violence.

Displaced persons are always confronted with various challenges which include loss of their livelihoods, frustrations, abuses, threats of assault, etc. In displacement, some of the affected usually think of taking cover or prefer to seek assistance in neighboring countries which qualifies them as refugees. But those that remain within the country of their citizenship are regarded as being internally displaced.

In 2009, African nations under the auspices of African Union took bold steps to tackle the disturbing trend through a convention held in Kampala, Uganda and agreed on a number of issues for the protection and assistance of the IDPs. The objectives, among others, were mainly to promote and strengthen regional and national measures to prevent or mitigate, prohibit and eliminate the root causes of internal displacement as well as provide for durable solutions. Resolutions of the convention, like other international instruments, required the member states that signed up to ratify through their appropriate national organs and institute the implementation accordingly.

Fortunately for Nigeria, before the coming of the convention, the government had already established agencies with responsibilities on the management of displaced persons in the country.

The National Emergency Management Agency has the responsibilities for management of disasters in all their ramifications, including the care for displaced persons. There also exists the National Commission for Refugees that handles international trans-border displacements, or precisely issues on refugees.

Over the years, NEMA has been very active in the management of the IDPs situations. Arising from the fact that disaster management is all about saving lives and minimizing losses, the Agency has always been at the forefront of providing assistance to displaced persons. It is worthy of note that improper handling of human displacement can also be tantamount to disaster.

Management of IDPs is as complex and technical as it is an integral part of disaster response activities. It goes beyond mere relief distribution. With the adoption of disaster risk reduction approaches to disaster management, issues concerning IDPs are fully integrated into disaster planning, mitigation, response and recovery.

Since 1999 when NEMA was established, the Agency has been up and doing in handling and managing the issues of the displaced in the country. To achieve this, among its mandates, it has developed and facilitated procedures, system and guideline for assistance and protection of IDPs in Nigeria through documents that include

*The National Disaster Response Plan approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2002;

*Search and Rescue and Epidemic Evacuation Plan signed by 44 Chief Executives;

*National Disaster Management Framework, and

*National Contingency Plan.

As an apex coordination organ of the Federal Government on matters of disaster management in all its ramifications, NEMA establishes working relationship with the relevant stakeholders that are called up during the time of needs. Therefore, the Agency serves as the secretariat for emergency responses that harmonize and fine tune all aspects of disaster management found in the mandates of other organisations. This informs the existing synergy that NEMA has established with stakeholders which include the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Fire Service, Military, Police, Red Cross Society and Nigerian Immigration Service, among others.

In realisation that every disaster or human displacement occurs in a particular state or local government area, the agency has been very vigorous in advocating that all state governments should establish their own emergency management agencies to complement the roles of NEMA in their areas. The objective, as contained in the NEMA Establishment Acts is for the states to also be involved in the management of such situations in their localities and refer only cases that overwhelm their capacities to the Federal Government through the agency.