Abuja: The President of Lawyers Alert, Mr. Rommy Mom, has called on the Federal Government to prioritize the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes by addressing the root causes of violence that have forced them to flee. Mom emphasized the need for a strategic approach during his contribution to a panel discussion at the 2025 Media and Development Conference in Abuja, organized by the Centre for Journalism, Innovation, and Development (CJID).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mom expressed concern over the significant funds allocated by the Federal Government for housing units and infrastructure at IDP camps. He suggested these resources could be better used to address the underlying issues causing displacement. Mom highlighted the vulnerability of IDPs, especially women and children, to violations such as trafficking and sexual assault, urging for urgent and coordinated intervention.
Mom noted the situation in places like Benue, where the return of IDPs to their lands seems indefinitely postponed. He criticized the extensive resources allocated to IDP camps, suggesting this implied a slim chance of IDPs returning to their ancestral homes, which hold spiritual and dignified significance for them. He advocated for channeling resources to dislodge perpetrators of violence and facilitate the return of IDPs.
Mr. Jude Ilo, CEO of the Hague Institute for Innovation in Law, added that community solutions should involve community members, emphasizing meaningful participation to achieve long-term success. Ilo stressed the need for understanding challenges through the community’s perspective, fostering trust through empathy, and ensuring perpetrators of violence face justice.
Mr. Idris Akinbanjo, Managing Editor of Premium Times, urged journalists to focus on reporting the root causes of conflicts instead of just the triggers, while maintaining professional ethics. Mr. Maxwell Atti, Executive Director of Energy Care Development Initiative, highlighted the importance of gender inclusion in conflict solutions and cautioned against depersonalizing safety issues.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the conference, which began on Monday, is set to conclude on Thursday with a National Health Dialogue. The 2025 theme for the conference is ‘Reimagining Democracy, Development and Data for the next decade’.