Nigeria Crisis Response Plan 2024-2025

CRP last updated: December 17 2024
$109,601,050
Funding required
7,800,000
People in need
2,514,900
People Targeted
385
Entities targeted

In collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, state actors, partners, communities, and displaced populations, IOM is committed to supporting a transition towards comprehensive, evidence-based, and durable solutions to displacement. This involves providing immediate humanitarian assistance while simultaneously prioritizing the protection and resilience of displaced populations and host communities. By addressing urgent needs and fostering sustainable recovery, IOM aims to strengthen social cohesion, enhance local capacities, and integrate displaced populations into broader development efforts. This approach aligns with the IOM Nigeria Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and contributes to achieving durable solutions for vulnerable populations.  

A woman displaced by recent floods in Borno State in Northeastern Nigeria. © IOM Nigeria 2024 / Elijah Elaigwu

INFORM Risk 

6.8, Very high 

INFORM Severity 

4, High 

Human Development Index (UNDP) 

161 of 193 

Nigeria continues to face a severe humanitarian and protection crisis, particularly in the North East, North Central, and North West, affecting millions over the past 13 years. In the North East, conflicts involving non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and military operations have caused extensive displacement and human rights abuses. In the North West, escalating farmer-herder conflicts, criminal activities, and climate impacts, such as floods and droughts, have worsened the situation. Similarly, intercommunal conflicts over land and water resources, along with frequent flooding in the North Central region, especially in Benue State, further contribute to the persistent crisis. 

These crises accentuate protection risks, especially for women and girls, by heightening the risks of violence, neglect, deliberate deprivation, discrimination, abuse, and exploitation. Migrants, displaced populations and affected communities, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), may be exposed to protection risks such as gender-based violence (GBV) and increased risk of trafficking due to the situations compelling them to leave their homes, the circumstances in which they travel, or the conditions they face on arrival. 

Communities in these regions endure a multitude of human rights abuses, including killings, abductions, rape, and torture, including perpetrated by non-state armed groups. These violations exacerbate pre-existing issues such as food insecurity, malnutrition, water shortages, and insufficient access to sanitation, housing, and healthcare services.

In responding to crises, IOM engages with a range of governmental, inter-agency, and bilateral coordination mechanisms at different levels to ensure a holistic and well-coordinated approach to humanitarian, development, peacebuilding, and migration-related challenges.  

At the national level, IOM works closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (FMHAPA), a key entity in humanitarian governance and disaster management. IOM’s collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) in key crisis-affected areas also ensures effective response to internal displacement challenges.  

IOM also supports governmental agencies in improving migration governance and addressing the mobility dimension of crises, including their drivers. This engagement includes working with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and other ministries and departments. 

At the inter-agency level, IOM is an active member of various United Nations coordination frameworks in Nigeria, including the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). IOM plays a significant leadership role in coordinating responses to humanitarian crises, particularly within the context of displacement caused by conflict in the North East, North West and Central States of Nigeria. As the co-lead of the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), and Shelter/Non-Food Items (S/NFI) Clusters/Sub-Clusters, as well as the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Network and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Technical Working Group for the North East and an active member of the Cash Working Group, IOM works in partnership with other UN agencies, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and national stakeholders to ensure a coordinated, protection-oriented humanitarian response. IOM is committed to supporting collective efforts to address SEA and is an active member of the PSEA Network nationally and co-leads the network in the North East. In this capacity, IOM actively contributes to the implementation of the inter-agency PSEA Network Action Plan. 

In addition to its role within the HCT and UNCT, IOM also serves as the Coordinator and Secretariat of the UN Network on Migration (UNNM) in Nigeria.

Since 2002, IOM has maintained a strong operational presence in Nigeria, with its headquarters in Abuja and Sub-Offices in Maiduguri, Yola, Benin, Lagos, and Katsina, and plans to increase its operational presence in Kano, and scale up its presence in Benue and Plateau States. Working closely with the Nigerian Federal Government, IOM Nigeria and its over 1,300 personnel  provides support in the areas of Preparedness and Response, Transition and Stabilization, and Migration Governance. IOM's initial emergency response to the 2014 escalation of violence in the North East laid the groundwork for its ongoing efforts to support IDPs, host communities, and vulnerable populations. Today, IOM continues to build on these interventions, adapting its strategies and working across the nexus to address the evolving needs of affected populations and focusing on durable solutions and community resilience.  

IOM plays a key role in the country’s UN emergency response framework, including through the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HRP) and the UNSDCF, coordinating efforts across critical sectors of assistance beyond acute crises to strengthen the humanitarian- development-peace-nexus (HDPN). This includes a workforce of staff working in areas such as camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), shelter, disengagement, disassociation, reintegration and reconciliation (DDRR), mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and protection, among others. As the largest CCCM actor in the North East, IOM co-leads the CCCM/NFI sector and supports 56 camps. Its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has been instrumental for the humanitarian and development community as partners rely heavily on DTM products for planning, decision-making, service provision, and accountability to the affected population. In water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), IOM manages a core pipeline for distributing WASH NFI kits, drills and maintains boreholes for safe water access, constructs sanitation facilities, and conducts hygiene promotion through community sensitization and WASH committees. Through the operation of humanitarian hubs, IOM provides safe and solar efficient accommodation and office space in hard-to-reach locations in Borno state for humanitarian actors.  

Across Nigeria, IOM demonstrates significant capacity in managing protection interventions, with a focus on GBV risk mitigation, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and accountability to affected populations (AAP).

In line with the 2023-2027 Country Strategy, IOM continues to support the Government of Nigeria at all levels – national, sub-national, and local – by fostering strong partnerships and providing critical assistance to enhance the government's leadership and response capabilities in managing and addressing migration, displacement, conflict drivers and humanitarian crises.  Through established and close cooperation, such as the development of State Action Plans (SAPs), IOM has played a key role in developing a comprehensive system to collect and disseminate data on internally displaced persons (IDPs), host communities and migrant populations. The data is available for all stakeholders to plan, prevent and deliver services to affected populations, ensuring coordinated and effective responses. 

IOM supports the Government in managing migration in a humane and orderly manner through capacity-strengthening, advisory services, and technical assistance across various areas, such as migration health, assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR), counter-trafficking, displacement drivers and information management. IOM has established strong collaboration with national migration stakeholders to improve border management, combat trafficking in persons, reduce irregular migration, and integrate migration considerations into Nigeria's broader development plans. These partnerships involve key agencies such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and various Federal and State ministries – including Humanitarian Affairs, Health, Education, Water Resources, Women’s Affairs, Youths and Sports, Agriculture, Works and Housing, Science and Technology, Environment, and the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (MRRR). 

Furthermore, IOM works in addressing the drivers of conflict to prevent displacement and enhance social cohesion, including by providing technical support to the Government on DDRR processes. 

IOM’s engagement also extends to the regional level, particularly through its collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This cooperation helps to align Nigeria’s migration management practices with broader regional frameworks, ensuring an integrated and sustainable approach to managing migration challenges across West Africa. Through these multifaceted efforts, IOM continues to strengthen the Government's capacity to lead on crisis response and migration issues, ensuring a comprehensive, coordinated, and resilient response that promotes long-term sustainability.

Key Operating Modalities
Participation and empowerment Conflict sensitivity Integrated Programming Collaboration and partnership Localization Cash-based interventions
Cross-cutting priorities
Data and evidence Protection Mainstreaming Gender Equality Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse Disaster Risk Climate Change Law and policy

Aligned with IOM’s global Localization Framework, the  IOM Nigeria Localization Strategy emphasizes collaboration with local actors to deliver effective and sustainable humanitarian responses. Through the Rapid Response Fund (RRF), IOM partners with national organizations, serving as an intermediary to transfer knowledge, technical support and resources. Since its launch, the RRF has funded 26 organizations, allowing for rapid, cost-effective responses across Nigeria that are community-owned and targeted at fostering long-term solutions tailored to community-specific needs and rooted in indigenous practices. 

Localization is central to IOM's efforts, particularly in co-designing, co-implementing, and co-evaluating initiatives, such as through community-based planning. IOM strengthens local ownership across its programmes, fostering local leadership in key areas such as return and reintegration, climate change adaptation, conflict mitigation, and economic revitalization. By placing local actors at the heart of its operations, IOM ensures that they are empowered to spearhead community-led solutions and drive sustainable development.

Objective 1 - Saving lives and protecting people on the move
Saving lives and protecting people on the move

$41,942,550
Funding required
1,001,311
People Targeted
232
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Internal migrant
Internally displaced person
International migrant
Local population / community

IOM Nigeria addresses urgent humanitarian needs of crisis-affected populations through integrated, life-saving programmes, in line with humanitarian protection principles while contributing to long-term recovery. Aligned with the IOM Strategic Plan 2024–2028 and guided by the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDPN) approach, IOM’s approach not only meets immediate needs but fosters sustainable solutions. By partnering with government bodies and civil society organizations (CSOs), IOM ensures local ownership, gender-responsive and tailored interventions for vulnerable groups, including children, older persons, persons with disabilities, survivors of GBV, and victims of trafficking. 

Through a gender-sensitive and inclusive lens, IOM provides targeted support to internally displaced persons (IDPs), particularly those in camps or return areas facing insecurity, damaged infrastructure, and limited services. IOM also strengthens the capacities of governments, local authorities, and CSOs through training and technical assistance to ensure continuity of essential services during crises. 

Through DTM, IOM monitors displacement trends, including its drivers, to enable data-driven decision-making. IOM also enhances information management systems, provides health, protection, mental health and psychological support and leads camp coordination, WASH infrastructure, cash-based interventions (CBI), shelter, and non-food item distribution.  

Thus, through these activities, IOM directly contributes to life-saving assistance by prioritizing funding for the alleviation of human suffering, reducing threats and vulnerabilities, and lastly, enhancing humanitarian assistance standards for affected populations. 

Objective 2 - Driving solutions to displacement
Driving solutions to displacement

$62,045,000
Funding required
1,263,605
People Targeted
207
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Former combatant / fighter
Internal migrant
Internally displaced person
Local population / community
International migrant

IOM works to support the implementation of the State Solutions Action Plans (SAP) developed with the Office of the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Solutions to Internal Displacement, governments, UN agencies, and partners. These plans aim to reduce displacement-related vulnerabilities and promote self-reliance among communities. IOM’s multi-sectoral programming designed in line with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Framework on Durable Solutions aims to contribute to supporting the numerous IDPs, returnees, and host communities across northern Nigerian states to find durable solutions. This entails supporting access to safe sustainable homes, basic services, economic opportunities, and legal rights, fostering public participation and safety, and supporting family reunification and access to justice.  

IOM will increase its support for state-led efforts to address the drivers of forced migration in the context of climate change adaptation and to enhance the resilience of affected communities, including populations unable to relocate from harm. Support will be provided to people who want to stay in their home areas by increasing investments in disaster risk reduction measures and local adaptation. IOM will embed environmental standards across its operations to ensure that it contributes to reducing environmental degradation, while seeking opportunities to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management.  

To achieve durable solutions and prevent future displacement, IOM will increase its investment in development approaches that integrate health care, education, livelihoods, DDRR processes and community-based protection mechanisms to support the successful integration or re-integration of IDPs, returnees, ex-associates of violent extremist organizations (VEOs) and contributing to other preventive measures to displacement.  

In areas impacted by conflict, crisis and fragility, IOM will mobilize social cohesion and peacebuilding efforts to prevent and resolve conflict, improve stability and, ultimately, contribute to the establishment of resilient, peaceful and inclusive societies.  

Thus, through its activities, IOM aims to directly contribute to sustainable solutions to displacement by primarily fostering resilience and self-reliance among displaced people, supporting them in accessing long-term solutions, and minimizing adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their homes. 

Facilitating pathways for regular migration
Facilitating pathways for regular migration

$5,613,500
Funding required
250,000
People Targeted
285
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
International migrant
Internally displaced person
Local population / community
Internal migrant

IOM will continue to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration, recognizing its value to both migrants and society. To address the challenges of conflict and instability in Northeast Nigeria, IOM seeks to enhance data and protection-centered regular migration pathways for vulnerable groups, including IDPs, refugees, returnees, and victims of trafficking. In collaboration with the government, IOM will provide evidence-based data and policy support, ensuring safe and orderly migration through comprehensive programmes that prioritize health and protection. 

Additionally, IOM will focus on strengthening government capacity to manage migration effectively, with particular attention to the safety, health, and security of migrants throughout their journey. Efforts will build on previous support to the Nigerian government in strengthening legal and policy frameworks for labour mobility, including the development of the National Policy on Labour Migration (2014). They will promote the development of sustainable channels for regular migration that adapt to emerging migration trends and establishing monitoring systems for cross-border movements. By aligning migration management practices with international standards, IOM supports Nigeria in creating a well-coordinated, inclusive migration framework responsive to the needs of all stakeholders. 

Objective 1
Saving lives and protecting people on the move
$41,942,550
Funding required
[{"name":"Human suffering is alleviated","y":40},{"name":"Threats and vulnerabilities are reduced","y":36},{"name":"The quality of humanitarian assistance is enhanced","y":24}]
Objective 2
Driving solutions to displacement
$62,045,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Adverse drivers of displacement are minimized","y":28},{"name":"Displaced people are resilient and self-reliant","y":39},{"name":"Displaced people benefit from solutions","y":33}]
Objective 3
Facilitating pathways for regular migration
$5,613,500
Funding required
[{"name":"Channels for regular migration are sustainable and responsive","y":15},{"name":"Migration flows and cross-border mobility are well managed","y":24},{"name":"Migration policy and legal frameworks are aligned with international standards","y":25},{"name":"Migrants are protected from violence, exploitation and abuse","y":36}]

Percentage of funding required contributing to the long term outcomes expressed on IOM's Strategic Results Framework.

$5,005,764
Funding required
Related inter agency plans
H(N)RP UNSDCF

IOM adheres to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) understanding of accountability to affected populations (AAP) in its implementation and across its strategies. This includes alignment with IOM's Gender Equality Policy, IOM Accountability to Affected Populations Framework and IOM's equality and equity strategy

This commitment ensures that power is exercised responsibly by considering the perspectives of those the Organization seeks to assist, including individuals in crisis, those at risk, and communities benefiting from community-based programming, such as host populations, IDPs and returnees. IOM will mainstream AAP within its strategies and programmes to deliver a quality, safe, and accountable response to crisis-related needs. In practice, this is achieved through robust complaints and feedback mechanisms (CFM), strategically placed in camps and camp-like settings, as well as through outreach activities such as house-to-house visits, community meetings, and focus group discussions.

$5,005,764
Funding required
[["Saving lives",40],["Solutions to displacement",57],["Pathways for regular migration",3]]
IOM's COMITAS project fosters peace and resilience in North-eastern Nigeria by addressing resource conflicts and supporting displaced families. © IOM Nigeria 2024 IOM / Great Ovie Taghwo
IOM's COMITAS project fosters peace and resilience in North-eastern Nigeria by addressing resource conflicts and supporting displaced families. © IOM Nigeria 2024 IOM / Great Ovie Taghwo
Camp coordination and camp management
$5,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Health
$4,300,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Mental health and psychosocial support
$4,800,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Protection
$6,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Water, sanitation and hygiene
$12,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Shelter and settlements
$12,945,286 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Disaster risk management
$5,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Data for action, insight and foresight
$4,150,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Support services for response actors
$1,500,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Land and property
$4,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Livelihoods and economic recovery
$16,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Peacebuilding, violence and conflict reduction
$9,600,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Community stabilization and community-driven development
$17,800,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans H(N)RP
Integrated policy support
$1,500,000 Funding required
Operational presence in

Nigeria

76
International staff and affiliated work force
1291
National staff and affiliated work force
6
IOM field office

 

The map used here is for illustration purposes only. Names and boundaries do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM.

Figures are as of 31 December 2023. For more details of IOM's operational capacity in country, please see the IOM Capacity section.

With thanks to our current donors