The crisis of existence and challenges of insurgency-displaced persons in the North-eastern Nigeria have assumed colossal calamities, including loss of lives and intense sufferings, despite the coordinated response of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) with other stakeholders. This study aimed at assessing the response capacity of NEMA to the plights of the affected persons in North-eastern Nigeria. The study utilized a mixed research designs, consisting of both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A sample size of 500 respondents was purposively selected in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. While, quantitative data were generated through (8) Key Informant Interview (KII) using snowballing sampling technique. The findings revealed that the response of NEMA towards ameliorating the plights of the insurgency affected persons included documentation of their profiles, Need Assessment Inquiry, distributing relief materials, re-union of missing victims with family members, and provision of prerequisite training to relevant disasters responders. The study found that the operational capacity of NEMA is characterized by strong management and coordinating capacity, strong operational synergy with other disaster responders. While insufficient logistic and funding capacity, corruption among NEMA officials and weak legal response capacity impeded the operational performance of NEMA the study concluded that NEMA has strong operational capacity but weak legal foundation to ameliorate the plights of the IDPs. The Study recommended improved funding of the Agency and enactment of IDP-specific constitutional roles to enhance maximum amelioration of the plights of the IDPs in North-eastern Nigeria.
Keywords: Plights; Insurgency Displaced Persons, North-eastern Nigeria
Written by:
Oguntola A. P.
Idowu S. A., Ph.D
Raji S.A., Ph.D
Centre for Peace and Security Studies,
Alhikmah University, Ilorin.
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