The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to end the existence of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across Nigeria within 18 months if elected president in the 2027 general elections.
Obi declared that he should be considered a failure if Nigerians are still living in IDP camps after one year and six months of his administration.
He made the promise on Tuesday during a political engagement in Jos, the Plateau State capital, where he assured residents of improved security and protection under his proposed government.
The former Anambra State governor also emphasised the need to restore national unity, lamenting that Nigeria remains divided along ethnic and religious lines.
According to him, uniting the country and ensuring the safety of Nigerians would be among his administration’s major priorities.
He said:
“Our commitment is to unite Nigeria because today there is no unity, we are divided along tribal lines, religious lines, and that should not be, we are Nigerians.
“Number two is to secure Nigeria, it’s our priority to ensure that Nigerians live in safety. In a place like Plateau and Benue where people are being killed daily, I assure you that no mother will cry again for her children, I assure you that no woman will feel the pain of losing a husband, neither will the father feel the pain of losing a wife.
“I have said it, and I will repeat it that after one year to 18 months in office, if any Nigerian remains in an IDP camp, we have failed.”
Obi further claimed that he had visited communities affected by insecurity, including Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi in Plateau State, to understand the challenges confronting residents.
He said his experience in the affected communities had given him insight into the suffering of people displaced by violence and attacks.
The NDC presidential candidate also expressed confidence in his proposed partnership with former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, promising that their administration would tackle kidnapping and attacks on schools.
“Let me assure you that with Kwankwaso and I as the president and vice president of this country, nobody will kidnap school children and go into the bush,” he added.
