The Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, has called on governments at all levels to strengthen support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria’s Northeast, saying many of them are still living in difficult conditions with little access to essential services.
The Bishop made the call while speaking with journalists during a free medical outreach organised for internally displaced women and children in Salama housing Yola. The outreach provided medical care, and other forms of support to vulnerable families affected by insurgency.
Bishop Mamza said the humanitarian situation in the region remains a major concern despite claims in some quarters that the IDP crisis has ended. According to him, many displaced persons continue to struggle with inadequate shelter, food, healthcare, education, and other basic necessities.
He stressed that it is the responsibility of governments at all levels to protect and care for citizens displaced by conflict, noting that the closure of official camps does not mean the displacement crisis is over.
He added that displaced persons who once fled to neighbouring Cameroon have crossed recently back into Nigeria and are living alongside local IDPs in unofficial camps, placing additional pressure on already limited humanitarian resources.
Bishop Mamza appealed to the federal and state governments, humanitarian agencies, and development partners to intensify efforts toward providing relief, improving living conditions, and supporting the rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced families.
He also encouraged individuals, religious organisations, and corporate bodies to continue supporting humanitarian interventions, stressing that restoring the dignity and hope of displaced women, children, and other vulnerable persons should remain a collective responsibility.