A Future Rebuilt: How new housing initiative is restoring lives in Northwest Nigeria.

The crisis in the Northwest has left countless communities grappling with conflict, displacement, and instability.

December 9, 2024

a group of people posing for the camera — Summayya and her children

As violence and unrest continue to escalate, the lives of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are marked by profound challenges and hardship. IDPs are not only at risk of immediate danger but also struggle with the harsh reality of surviving without proper shelter. Forced from their homes due to armed conflicts, persecution, or natural disasters like floods and droughts, IDPs not only face immediate dangers but also endure life in overcrowded camps with inadequate shelter and essential resources.

This is the heartfelt story of a woman-headed household, Summayya Hafizu, a mother of six children who was displaced from her local community in Jibia Local Government Area (LGA). Her house and village were destroyed by bandits – who committed atrocities, including assaulting women, killing men, and imposing extortionate demands. Summayya and her children had no choice but to seek refuge in an IDP camp. She recounts, "One fateful day, our village and homes were burned, and we had to flee in the night. Ninety percent of the people in the camp had escaped when their homes were burned." Tragically, Summayya’s husband abandoned her while she was pregnant with their sixth child.

"Life in the camp has not been easy for the past two years," she explains. “We lack necessities like clean water, shelter, toilet facilities and other basic amenities. We have been sleeping on torn mats with our children for a long time now—imagine sleeping on a cold floor during the cold season. Our children often fall sick due to harsh living conditions. The classrooms we use are overcrowded with little protection against the cold."

Summayya’s story highlights the dire conditions in IDP camps, where facilities are limited, overcrowding is common, and access to healthcare, food, and water remains scarce.

Safianu Suraju, the chairman of the IDP camp in Jibia Local Government Area (LGA), notes the ongoing challenges. "When the Jibia camp first opened, we had about 20,000 people. With some support from the government, a number have returned to their communities, but there are still around 600 people here," he says. "We constantly face challenges like limited space, security, food shortages, and healthcare. The lack of adequate shelter is a persistent problem."

To address these needs, a housing project is underway in Jibia Local Government Area. The housing initiative will construct 152 housing units to provide safe, stable homes for IDPs and others affected by conflict in the region. The initiative aims to promote social cohesion and support community resilience. By offering a secure environment, the project also seeks to prevent further displacement and provide stability in the area.

In support of this effort, the governments of three states have allocated substantial land resources to UNDP for housing construction: 152 units in both Zamfara and Katsina, and 100 units in Sokoto. This development aims to assist in the resettlement and reintegration of displaced populations.

The Project supported by the Government of Germany through the Northwest Prevention Facility aligns closely with UNDP’s mission to foster sustainable development and peacebuilding in the region. By addressing the immediate needs of displaced individuals while working towards long-term recovery, this initiative serves as a testament to the principles of dignity, social justice, and resilience-building in communities marked by hardship and conflict.