Socio-Economic Rights of Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria: An Appraisal

Abstract

In the turbulent landscape of African political conflict, particularly within the sub-Saharan region, waves of unrest and instability have driven unprecedented levels of forced migration and internal displacement. This paper appraises the consequent human rights abuses and socio-economic plights faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and migrants in Nigeria, a nation emblematic of these continental challenges. Employing a qualitative, desktop methodology, the analysis interrogates the socio-legal regimes governing displacement, focusing on their impact on fundamental rights to health, shelter, education, and livelihood. It argues that the systemic failure to secure these socio-economic rights perpetuates cycles of vulnerability and poverty, transforming displacement from a temporary crisis into a permanent state of deprivation. The paper posits that while robust international and regional frameworks—such as the Kampala 
Convention and the African Charter—exist, their domestication and enforcement in Nigeria remain critically deficient. Ultimately, it calls for the formalization of a protective legal status for IDPs and migrants, the establishment of dedicated national agencies for their affairs, and the reaffirmation of state responsibility as the primary duty-bearer in safeguarding the dignity and economic welfare of all displaced citizens.