The rising wave of communal clashes, including the recent Jos crises in Plateau State, has significantly increased the population of Nigerians living as refugees in the country to 1.6 million.
This latest number obtained in Abuja at the National Commission for Refugees, is in sharp contrast with the decreasing number of foreign refugees, currently in Nigeria to a mere 7,500 from over 500,000 a decade ago.
The Nigerian refugees, forced to flee from conflict zones across the country, identified as Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), are scattered in various refugee camps operated by the National Refugee Commission in twelve states.
Besides Plateau State, it was learnt that a significant number of the IDPs arose from conflicts in Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa –Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Jigawa, Bauchi, Borno and Ogun States.
A yet to be published current situation report on the number of both local and foreign refugees in Nigeria indicated that, 1.6 million Internally Displaced Persons, all citizens of Nigeria and 7,500 foreign refugees are in various refugee camps operated by the National Commission for Refugees.
The report also stated that, 7,500 foreign refugees consists of Liberia and Sierra Leone, which account for 5,000 refugees, while Congolese, Cameroonians and Chadians account for 2,500.
The Congolese, Sierra Leone and Liberian refugees are camped in Lagos and Ogun State respectively, Cameroonians in Benue and Cross River States and Chadian refugees in Borno.
On the recent Jos crises, it noted the efforts of Bauchi state government to permanently resettle the people who fled to the state from the Jos crises, by giving them, “Indigene Certificate” and land to build their homes.
The report also noted the need to review its appropriation upwards from N30million to N181 million, so as to be able to cope with the financial burden of the increasing number of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria.