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NOTES AND REFLECTIONS

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INTERNALLY

DISPLACED PERSONS IN THE NORTHEAST OF NIGERIA

MARY MAGDALENE SACKFLAME

mary.sackflame@uniosun.edu.ng

Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana (Gana). She

holds a Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan and a Bachelor's

degree in Political Science and International Relations from Osun State University,

Osogbo. She is a Lecturer at Osun State University, Osogbo, in the Department of

Political Sciences in Nigeria. The areas of research interest include political economy,

conflict studies, and international relations. She has co-authored four papers in both local

and international reputable journals. She was awarded the Gerda Henkel Foundation

Award (Lisa Maskell) in 2022; the 2022 IAS-CAS Laureate and the Carnegie Corporation

of New York PADA Award in 2020. She was also awarded the best-graduating student in

the Department of Political Science and International Relations in 2014, Osun State

University. She has volunteered for various humanitarian non-governmental

organizations occupying different roles during her service to humanity.

BOLAJI OMITOLA

bolaji.omitola@uniosun.edu.ng

Is currently on leave of absence with Hillside University of Science and Technology (Nigeria)

where he is serving as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. He is a professor of Political Science,

and a member of the governing council of Osun State University, Nigeria from 2019 to

2023. He was a sabbatical professor at Landmark University, Omu-Aran (2019-2020). He

attended University of Lagos, from 1987 to 1991 for his undergraduate education

programme and University of Ibadan, for his postgraduate programmes between 1993

and 2008. He obtained Bachelor of Science, Political Science (with Second Class Upper

Division) in the year 1991; Masters in Political Science in 1994 and PhD in Political

Science in 2008. He had served in various capacities including Provost, Faculty Dean,

Dean of Students, Head of Department, and Editor, Uniosun Journal of Politics and

Society,(UJPS). He is also, the Editor-in-chief of Annals of Social Science, a publication of

the Faculty of the Social Sciences, Osun State University. He has attended conferences

and won many grants including African Political Science Association: Small Research

Grant, 2001, laureate Methodology Workshop, 2001 and Travelling Grant, 2004; African

Studies Association of United Kingdom Traveling Fellowship, 2011; Institute of Security

Studies (ISS), South Africa and African Institute of South Africa (AISA), Workshop Leader

at Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin University, Friendrichsafen, Germany in 2017,

Tetfund Travel Grant, 2014 and Tetfund Research Grant, 2016. He is a member of a

research team that won the NRF grant for the year 2023 period. He has appeared as

Keynote speaker and Lead paper presenter at conferences. He contributes to public

discourse in Newspapers, Television and Radio Stations. He has published in reputable

outlets within and outside the country.

ADETOLA A. OMITOLA

omitolaa@run.edu.ng

Lectures at Redeemer’s University, Ede (Nigeria). She attended University of Ilorin, for her

undergraduate education programme and University of Ibadan, Ibadan for her Masters,

and M.Phil. programmes. She is rounding up her PhD programme at the University of

Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. She has attended many conferences within and outside Nigeria and

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The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Internally Displaced Persons in The Northeast

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won travelling grants. She has published in various outlets within and outside Nigeria.

Her areas of research interests include population movement, tourism and tourism

development and religious tourism.

Introduction

Nigeria has witnessed several COVID-19 variants since the onset of the pandemic in

2019. The first three cases of the latest variant called “Omicron” were confirmed on the

1st of December, 2021 from three passengers arriving from South Africa in Nigeria (PLAC,

2021). The COVID-19 pandemic at the onset started in China, Wuhan, in November 2019

and it spread to other countries in the world. Nigeria confirmed her first outbreak of the

Pandemic on the 27th of February, 2020 when an Italian citizen in Lagos tested positive

for the virus (UNDP, 2020; Tijjani and Ma, 2020).

Globally, as of January 4th, 2022, around 290, 959, 019 COVID-19 cases have been

confirmed by WHO (2022), including 5,446,753 deaths. This has not only affected

economic activities across the world but has also led to an increase in the poverty rate

and hunger among many others. Nigeria is categorized as one of the 13 high-risk African

countries concerning the spread of COVID-19 and Nigeria is also among the vulnerable

African nations, given the weak state of the healthcare system (WHO, 2020). In Nigeria,

the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to deepen the humanitarian crises in the north-

eastern region which has been besieged with the escalation of various forms of

insecurities, and the density and conditions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps

and many other factors create a high risk for the rapid spread of the pandemic. Countries,

therefore, need to strengthen the resilience of their health system and prevention

programs as well as address and eradicate conflict and other forms of violence, and

insurgency activities among others which are seen as a setback to attaining sustainable

development goals (UN SDG Report, 2020).

It is against this background that this paper seeks to examine how COVID-19 has affected

individuals in the North East region bearing in scope also Internally displaced persons

and how the pandemic has affected their health and welfare. This is important in a region

with enduring humanitarian concerns, to uphold peace, human welfare, well-being,

justice, and equality. In doing this, the paper is divided into six sections. The first among

them gives an introduction to the work. The second focuses on conceptual clarifications.

The third section examines the COVID-19 situation in the Northeast region and conditions

of Internally Displaced Persons. The fourth section reviews and integrates secondary

data, to analyze the implications and effects of COVID-19 on IDPs in Northeast Nigeria.

The fifth section provides measures taken to protect individuals against the COVID-19

pandemic and provides some thoughts on the subject matter, while section six concludes

the paper.

Northeast Nigeria comprises of six (6) states which are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and

Yobe states.

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Conceptual Clarifications: COVID-19 Pandemic and Conflict-Induced

Displacement

The COVID-19 Pandemic is a health crisis that has not only caused the death of millions

of people across the world but continues to deepen the humanitarian crises in north-

eastern Nigeria. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an illness caused by a novel

coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

(WHO, 2019). The health crisis is affecting all countries and all sectors and necessary

measures taken to curb the spread of the crises have resulted in massive implications

for health, economics, social stability, politics, and geopolitics among many others (Sachs

et al, 2020). The situation is more catastrophic and disastrous in conflict-prone zones

that are struggling with high humanitarian crises of IDPs, low healthcare infrastructure,

and multiple preexisting fragilities. Presently, IDPs in the Northeast are 1.92 million with

1.72 million in need of food security, nutrition, water sanitation hygiene, protection, and

health among many others. While slightly under half of the IDPs are in formal camps,

the rest are in informal camps or settlements or living in host communities with

inadequate conditions and services such as overcrowding, protection risks, poor and

fragile shelter, inadequate water sanitation and hygiene facilities, limited basic services,

and inadequate health care systems among others (OCHA, 2021; OCHA, 2021).

Analyzing the historical overview of conflicts-induced displacements in Northeast Nigeria

can be traced to the nature of the country. Nigeria is a multicultural or heterogeneous

nation made up of diverse ethnic (250 ethnic groups) and religious practices (Islam,

Christianity, Traditional worshippers among others) and grossly divided along ethnic and

religious lines. This diversity and the continuous clamour to entrench Sharia in the North

which is one of the fundamental ideological elements of the current Boko Haram sect has

triggered several ethno-religious and other forms of conflicts. The most recorded ethno-

religious conflicts to have taken place in the North in the past are the Maitatsine riots of

the 1980s (1980, 1982, 1984, and 1985). It was reported that the 1980 Maitatsine Kano

metropolis riot alone claimed 4,177 lives and the Maitatsine uprising of Bullum-Kuttu in

Borno State (October 1982) claimed around four hundred lives and properties worth over

three million Naira destroyed and thousands of people displaced. The Gombe Maitatsine

conflict of April 1985 took about one hundred lives as well (Bamidele, 2018).

Other underlying factors that trigger conflict are bad governance and corruption, human

rights abuses and violations, poverty, and ethnic marginalization, environmental

deforestation and degradation, and small arms, and light weapons proliferation, among

many others. The recent upsurge in the clash between Fulani herdsmen and farmers has

been linked to environmental issues. The scourge of deforestation and desertification that

has been associated with the North over the years has pushed the Fulani herdsmen to

migrate to the central and further south in search of pasture for their cattle. The failure

on the part of the government to provide adequate grazing areas for the Fulani herders

along the plateau has over the years given rise to these incessant conflicts between the

Fulani herdsmen and the indigenous farming communities along the central region

(Ogunkuade, 2020).

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of Nigeria

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Evidence abounds of the involvement of Boko Haram elements in the various skirmishes

involving Fulani herdsmen and their hosts in Jos, Plateau State, and other parts of

Northcentral Nigeria. The consistent denial by the umbrella Fulani Miyetti Cattle Breeders

Association that the members of the group are not responsible for the wanton killings

and destruction going on in various areas of conflict is further evidence to suggest that

transhumant Fulani from neighboring countries and their connection and exposure to

terrorist ideas and organizations are interested in opening a new front of operation for

Boko Haram in northern Nigeria (Omitola, 2014). This front is presently controlled by the

militias operating in the Northwestern part while Boko Haram continues to hold forth in

the Northeastern part of Nigeria

Vulnerable Persons in Northeastern Nigeria: Present Conditions

The presence of ungoverned spaces, porous borders, the practice of sharia law, and high

levels of illiteracy, poverty, and unemployment among others have fostered a vulnerable

environment for various forms of insecurity such as the Boko-Haram conflict, the

Fulani/herders crises, as well as ethnic/religious crises to strive in, thereby exposing

individuals in these communities to frequent attacks and insecurities. The mere idea that

Northern Nigeria is predominantly Islam and the need to entrench Sharia in the North is

one of the fundamental ideological elements of the Boko Haram sect. Many northern

states today operate strictly on Sharia law. Christians in these states no longer have

freedom of movement and association, and this has further divided Nigeria than rather

unifying it. Kaduna states for example prides itself in being divided between Kaduna

North and Kaduna South. Kaduna North is predominantly Muslim while Kaduna South is

predominantly Christian, all within the same geographical space. The proliferation of

small arms and light weapons proliferation and the porous borders of the Lake Chad

countries continue to serve as drivers of communal ethno-religious insurgency in Nigeria.

Inclusively, the scourge of deforestation and desertification that is associated with the

North over the years has pushed the Fulani herdsmen to migrate to the central and

further south in search of pasture for their cattle. The failure on the part of the

government to provide adequate grazing areas for the Fulani herders along the plateau

has over the years given rise to these incessant conflicts between the Fulani herdsmen

and the indigenous farming communities (Ogunkuade, 2020).

These identified crises above have truncated upon the peaceful conducive environment

where individuals of that region can attain their best self, as the occurrences of the

conflict lead to massive displacement of people, and destruction of lives and properties,

among others. The Boko-Haram conflict in the northeastern region which has lingered

for over a decade since its emergence in 2002, and the Fulani/herders crises, as well as

ethnic/religious crises, have impacted over seven (7) million and produced a total number

of 2,184,254 IDPs (IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix Round 36 Report, 2021).

Northeastern Nigeria comprises a population of 23 million people across six states, out

of these states, Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe represent the conflict intensity areas which

make up a population of 13.4 million people, and out of this population, an estimated 53

percent of the population require humanitarian assistance with 1.8 Internally Displaced

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Notes e Reflections

The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Internally Displaced Persons in The Northeast

of Nigeria

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persons inclusive of this percent (OCHA, 2019). In the 2022 OCHA humanitarian response

plan, a total population of 8.4 million people in the north-east states of Borno, Adamawa,

and Yobe (BAY states) will need humanitarian aid in 2022, and out of these, 2.2 million

are internally displaced; 1.5 million are returnees who lack essential services and

livelihoods, and 3.9 million are members of communities affected by their hosting of

Internally Displaced Persons. This figure also includes the majority (an estimated

733,000) of the 1 million people in areas currently inaccessible to international

humanitarian actors (Humanitarian Response Plan, 2022).

Around 45% of the IDPs live in camps and camp-like settings; more than half are living

in host communities. In addition, almost 90% of the IDPs face extreme or severe

intersectoral needs irrespective of where they live, and almost all IDPs living in camps or

camp-like settings endure inadequate unhealthy living conditions and services, such as

overcrowding, protection risks, poor and fragile shelter, inadequate water-sanitation-

and-hygiene (WASH) facilities, limited basic services, a paucity of cooking fuel, and

scarce livelihood opportunities, including limited access to land for agriculture (grazing

and crop farming). Those in informal camps or settlements generally face worse

conditions, with little or no formal services. The circumstances of IDPs living in host

communities are more varied, but they rarely fare better than those in camps, and in

some cases are worse off: most host communities are very poor and deprived of essential

services. The presence of IDPs places a great strain on already meager resources in what

is one of the poorest regions of Nigeria. IDPs arriving from areas inaccessible to

humanitarian agencies are generally in the worst condition of any people in need in the

BAY states, with extremely high rates of acute malnutrition and mortality. The local

population as well as returnees that are integrated back into society are also

encountering similar issues such as a lack of inadequate healthcare facilities and essential

infrastructure, with incomplete or insecure shelters which put them at risk of improvised

explosive devices (IED). Many of the local population and returnees have become

detached from their previous livelihood and traditional support system as they struggle

to obtain basic agricultural inputs and to gain access to a market to sell their products

due to the various forms of insecurities in this region country. Almost 3.3 million people

live in the 40 LGAs that are classified as having extreme and severe intersectoral needs.

Of those in need, 42% are from the host community. This means almost one in two non-

displaced households in these LGAs need some form of humanitarian aid to survive. Many

of these people face challenges similar to those of IDPs and returnees. Chronic poverty

coupled with the impact of conflict compels them to adopt negative coping mechanisms

to meet daily needs. People in these locations suffer insecurity as a result of conflict or

security operations. Basic services such as schools or hospitals are not functioning as

infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed and/or staff has fled (OCHA, 2022;

Humanitarian Needs Overview, 2021).

Like IDPs and returnees, people in host communities also face movement restrictions as

a result of either insecurity or security-related measures. In this context, farming

households are faced with multiple challenges. An average of 24% of households are

affected by movement restrictions across the three states. The conflict also hampers

access to agricultural land and essential farming inputs: for example, the military and

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of Nigeria

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national counter-terrorism laws regulate and restrict the movement of some non-organic

fertilizers (because of their potential use in manufacturing explosives). Many schools

have been partially destroyed or rendered inoperable by the conflict and lack of

investment in rehabilitation. Also, there are continuous occurrences of the kidnapping of

school children (Chibok Girls of 2014 and the Dapchi Girls of 2018) (Humanitarian

Response Plan, 2022). At the start of the crisis, 910 schools have been damaged or

destroyed while more than 1,500 have been forced to close. 611 teachers have been

killed and 19,000 displaced – all these leaving about 900,000 children without access to

learning.

Continuous occurrences of the Boko Haram conflict have led to the destruction of health

facilities in the Northeastern states of Nigeria. Due to the conflict, two-thirds of health

facilities have been damaged, forcing medical personnel to flee and clinics to close. As a

result, people are seeking treatment in neighboring Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, placing

more strain on the host state's limited health facilities (Omilusi, 2016). In addition, the

north-east remains highly endemic for diseases, IDPs living in camp-like settings are

mostly at risk of epidemic-prone diseases like cholera, measles, meningitis, and viral

hemorrhagic fevers such as Lassa and yellow fevers while malaria continues to be the

disease IDPs are more prone as it accounts for over 50 percent cases, especially during

the rainy season. Unsafe water, poor hygiene, and sanitation services associated with

long-term structural flaws exacerbate the issue further, as does a general deterioration

of resilience in the impacted areas. Epidemics are more likely to affect women and

children more than others. As of 8 November in Borno and 31 October in Yobe, there

have been 4,890 cases of measles reported in the three states of Borno, Adamawa, and

Yobe so far in 2020, a 78 percent drop over 2019.

Implications and Effects of COVID-19 on IDPs in Northeast Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a major public health concern in the Northeastern

states. There is overcrowding in IDP camps, limited capacity and space for testing,

insufficient testing kits, and insufficient essential types of equipment in health centers,

limited and inaccessible health centers, the inaccessible population in conflict-prone

areas. Up to 10% of the host-community population cannot access primary healthcare

services, and more than 30% of households report barriers to accessing health services.

As a result, many children die from preventable diseases like malaria, acute watery

diarrhea, cholera, and measles. A significant proportion of the host-community

population (13%) has inadequate access to water for domestic use and almost 25% of

host-community members in Borno State do not have access to soap. A large number of

households also face significant protection issues, particularly women and girls, many of

whom become victims of sexual or gender-based violence (SGBV) (NCDC, 2021).

Also, an approved BAY state COVID-19 preparedness and response plan is absent,

leaving a fragmented, uncoordinated response in an already inadequate health system.

Adamawa topped the list of states that reportedly had mitigation measures put in place

to prevent the spread of COVID-19 disease, Borno came in next at 44 percent, and Yobe

was the state with the lowest levels of mitigation measures at 5 percent. Fifty-eight

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percent of respondents residing in camp and camp-like settings in Adamawa reported

that COVID-19 mitigation measures had been set up in the locality/sites. There has also

been significant disruption of vaccination campaigns and other essential health services

for children and other vulnerable groups in inaccessible areas (IOM Displacement

Tracking Matrix, 2021).

As of 9th May 2021, 2, 870 COVID-19 cases were reported in the BAY states with 79

deaths. In the BAY states, 66 percent of the cases were in Borno and 25 percent from

Adamawa. The sparse coverage of COVID-19 testing of IDPs in the BAY states and the

low reliability of estimates of morbidity and mortality means the true number of cases is

almost certainly much higher than the reported number (NCDC, 2021; OCHA, 2021).

Measures taken

At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal government made some efforts

to curtail the spread of the pandemic which was stated to the public. These measures

include restriction of movements, closure of the border, travel bans to and from high-

risk countries with community transmissions of COVID-19, deployment of rapid response

teams to all affected states, state-level training, and capacity building of health personnel

on; infection, prevention, and control; case management, intensified risk communication,

community engagement, heightened surveillance, field epidemiological investigations,

rapid identification of suspected cases, isolation, diagnosis, contact tracing, monitoring

and follow-up of persons of interests, sanitation of hands, the use of nose mask and

maintaining social distance in public (NCDC, 2021). Furthermore, social and religious

gatherings were banned temporarily, and schools and businesses were closed.

Inclusively, a national COVID-19 multi-sectoral pandemic response plan was adopted in

the northeast region to serve as a blueprint to respond to the crises by bringing together

all sectors and partners operating in Nigeria’s COVID-19 response. On the 31st of May,

2021, the Operational Humanitarian Country Team (OHCT) in Nigeria released the Joint

Support Framework to ensure a coordinated approach to managing the COVID-19

emergency. It also aims to formalize the ongoing multi-sectoral work to address the

protracted humanitarian crises and leverage the collaboration for an effective response

to the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to bring together all sectors and partners operating

in Nigeria’s COVID-19 response from the national governmental authorities, non-

governmental organizations, UN agencies, academic and training institutes, donor

agencies, and the affected population to tackle the health crises (WHO, 2021).

Furthermore, a network of current testing labs is being expanded for an additional six

which will bring the total to 13 labs, including planned capacity in the North-East and the

North-West. As this network expands, testing capacity is expected to increase to 5,000

tests per day against the current capacity of approximately 500 tests per day within 24-

48 hours (UNDP, 2020). Efforts have also been made to raise awareness about the

COVID-19 pandemic through sensitization campaigns on handwashing and the

distribution of soap to more than 100,000 IDPs (Tijjani & Ma, 2020). In 2019, the health

sector received only 25 percent of its funding requirements, and health centers are

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e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL 15 N.º 2

November 2024-April 2025, pp. 488-499

Notes e Reflections

The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Internally Displaced Persons in The Northeast

of Nigeria

Mary Magdalene Sackflame, Bolaji Omitola, Adelota A. Omitola

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currently equipped with just 52 and 83 beds in ICU and isolation centers, respectively.

The Federal Government in a bid to repair the destroyed healthcare facilities in the

Northeast drafted out the Rapid Deployment Medical Unit Plan, where 12 compact mobile

health units at 3 per state will be deployed to all standard resettlement camps, host

communities, and resettlement communities on a rotation basis in Borno, Adamawa, and

Yobe. Each unit will be equipped with essential drugs and medical equipment and it will

be restocked on a monthly rota basis (PCNI, 2016).

In addition, on the 2nd of March, 2021, Nigeria received nearly 4 million doses of the

COVID-19 vaccine, shipped via the COVAX facility in partnership between CEPI, GAVI,

UNICEF, and WHO which marked a historic step towards the goal to ensure equitable

distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally (WHO, 2021). As of 26th May 2021, a total

number of 1,618,551 vaccine doses have been administered in Nigeria (WHO 2021). For

the state of Borno, there are three stages of vaccination, the first is intended for health

workers and front-line workers, including those in charge of vehicle refueling stations

and the most risk groups of the population, that is, the elderly and people with specific

diseases. As of the 15th of April, 2021, 75,000 doses have arrived in Borno state for

phase 1 vaccination (INTERSOS, 2021).

Furthermore, collaborative efforts are required to respond to the multifaceted nature of

the COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented implications on the socio-economic

conditions already challenged by the complex development context. In so doing, a unified

United Nations strategy to amplify the Nigerian government’s response was initiated in

March 2020. The overall management of the One UN COVID-19 Response Basket Fund

is led and coordinated by the Project Board with representation from the Presidential

Task Force; the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control

(NCDC), relevant Government departments, fund-contributing donors, and the UN. The

Project Board oversees the UN COVID-19 Response Basket Fund supported by a Technical

Committee established to review project implementation tools. The Nigeria One UN

COVID-19 response reflects the United Nations in Nigeria’s support to an inclusive and

nationally owned COVID-19 response through a shared vision and a common strategy.

Its purpose is to coordinate and align the UN’s efforts and leverage partnerships with the

government, development partners, foundations, CSOs, and the private sector to

increase the availability, accessibility, affordability, adaptability, and acceptability of

COVID-19 response interventions in Nigeria. In terms of funding, as of June 2020, the

Project Board had allocated US$ 42,767,450.16 for response interventions to be

undertaken by Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs) covering the following areas: Risk

Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE); Strengthening State level

Operational Capacity in Surveillance, Infection Prevention, and Control; Building Capacity

of Healthcare Workers in Case Management and strengthening hospital capacities to

respond; and, engagement with Civil Society Organisations to reverse the negative

impact of COVID-19 on equal access to essential health services. The EU and United

Nations also received delivery of vital supplies to help the fight against the COVID-19

pandemic in Nigeria. The shipment, along with others coming soon, is procured through

the One UN COVID-19 Basket Fund with a significant contribution from the EU - and will

be valued at more than USD 22 million (UNDP, 2020).

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The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Internally Displaced Persons in The Northeast

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Tremendous progress has also been made by the Nigerian government to ensure

individuals in the Northeast are fully vaccinated. In Borno State, a total of 35,196 persons

(comprising of males - 22,146 and females - 13,050) have so far been vaccinated with

the Moderna 1st dose of which 20,308 persons (males - 12,623 and females - 7,685)

have so far received the second dose thus accounting for 57.70% fully vaccinated with

Moderna vaccines. In Yobe state, from 23 August to 28 December 2021, a total of 22,517

people had received 1st dose of the Moderna vaccine. Of this number 10,663 were

Females and 11,854 were Males. Also 17, 023 people received the 2nd dose of the

Moderna vaccine representing 76% of the 1st dose. In Adamawa, during the Mass

Vaccination of AstraZeneca, for the 1st phase of AstraZeneca Vaccination, a total of

39,872 came for the 1st dose vaccination and 28,689 came for the second dose

vaccination, while during the 2nd phase of AstraZeneca vaccination, a total of 20,793

came for the 1st dose vaccination and 12,446 came for the 2nd dose vaccination, and

during the 3rd phase, 47,718 came for the 1st dose vaccination and 4,475 came for the

2nd dose vaccination (Relief Web, 2022).

Given the continuous mutations of the virus, there should be increased testing and

vaccination of IDPs which will invariably lead to more cases being identified and more

individuals and IDPs in the Northeast being protected from the virus. There should also

be continued efforts to expedite the procurement of additional kits, including the 10,000

kits that are provided by the United Nations, which is still ongoing. Measures also should

be taken by the Federal Government to step up funding of the healthcare system to

address the twin effects of the conflicts in the Northeast and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion

The paper has examined the implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Internally

Displaced Persons in the Northeast of Nigeria. The paper argued that the spread of

COVID-19 has not only exacerbated existing inequalities but created more inequalities,

especially among vulnerable groups such as the IDPs. This is evidenced in the worsening

livelihood pattern of IDPs and increasing negative impacts on their socio-economic

situation and well-being. The paper observed that while there are increasing efforts on

the part of the government to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the Nigerian people

through measures such as increased testing and vaccination; the case of the IDPs in the

conflict and security zones in the North-East remains of concern. This concern is due to

constraints such as military activities, Boko Haram insurgents, and herders attacks which

reduced accessibility. The measures taken by the Federal Government have had

economic implications The economy is inevitably heading towards a recession and could

contract by as much as 3.6 percent.

The paper concluded that government and other humanitarian actors should double their

efforts to protect IDPs in the region against the widespread of the virus by increasing the

awareness of COVID-19 among IDPs, with widespread testing and vaccination of IDPs.

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL 15 N.º 2

November 2024-April 2025, pp. 488-499

Notes e Reflections

The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Internally Displaced Persons in The Northeast

of Nigeria

Mary Magdalene Sackflame, Bolaji Omitola, Adelota A. Omitola

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e-ISSN: 1647-7251 
VOL 15 N.º 2 
 
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Notes e Reflections 
The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Internally Displaced Persons in The Northeast 
of Nigeria                                                                  
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JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL 15 N.º 2

November 2024-April 2025, pp. 488-499

Notes e Reflections

The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Internally Displaced Persons in The Northeast

of Nigeria

Mary Magdalene Sackflame, Bolaji Omitola, Adelota A. Omitola

499

How to cite this note

Sackflame, Mary Magdalene, Omitola, Bolaji & Omitola, Adelota A. (2024). The Implications of the

Covid-19 Pandemic on Internally Displaced Persons in The Northeast of Nigeria. Notes and

Reflections, Janus.net, e-journal of international relations. VOL 15, N.º 2, November 2024-April

2025, pp. 488-499. https://doi.org/10.26619/1647-7251.15.2.04.