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Osinbajo Urges Urgent Action On Nigeria’s Escalating Insecurity

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedNovember 28, 2025

Former Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has called for urgent and practical solutions to Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, stressing that tackling the crisis requires the combined efforts of the government, humanitarian organisations, and the international community.

Speaking as the Chairman of the 10th House of Justice Summit in Kaduna on Friday, Osinbajo said the country needs a comprehensive approach that includes emergency assistance, rehabilitation, reintegration, and durable solutions for victims of insecurity.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Ade Ipaye, Osinbajo noted, “Efforts of government to provide some comfort by way of camps and facilities for internally displaced persons, IDPs, have been inadequate, as the facilities struggle with the growing population, including children and disabled persons who have special needs.”

He observed that since the onset of insurgency and insecurity in 2009, many Nigerians have been forced to flee their homes, leaving behind properties acquired over a lifetime and entering a life of abject poverty and destitution.

“This traumatic episode is very frequently accompanied by family break-ups, with loved ones lost or separated, rarely to be seen again,” Osinbajo added.

The former Vice President highlighted that the humanitarian crisis, driven by Boko Haram insurgency, communal clashes, and natural disasters, has worsened over the years, resulting in a sharp increase in internally displaced persons in Nigeria. He noted that the demographic trend is particularly concerning.

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), there are over 3.4 million IDPs in Nigeria as of the end of 2024, with women and children constituting the majority. This figure contrasts sharply with the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics’ records, which show about half that number.

Osinbajo lamented, “Malnutrition and related health problems are rampant. IDPs live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, making them vulnerable to diseases. Other problems confronting the IDPs include inadequate access to food, shelter, education, and security. The inability of many young children to access schools means that these problems may be carried over to future generations.”

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He further expressed his alignment with the philosophy of the House of Justice, describing it as a multi-door justice organisation that uses law as a tool for social justice.

“This reflects a major part of the justice sector programme of Lagos State, when I served as the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice from 1999 to 2007. The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse and other people-oriented schemes, such as the Office of the Public Defender and the Citizens Mediation Centre, constituted the core of our effort to enhance social justice. Happily, these ideas have since gained nationwide acceptance,” he said.

Osinbajo also commended the leaders and staff of the House of Justice, noting, “Ten years ago, in 2015, you began an annual summit to evaluate and find solutions to the biggest justice challenges in Nigeria and Africa, bringing together stakeholders who would critically review the challenge and recommend action plans for governments, parastatals, communities, and citizens.

“Unlike so many such programmes that have since fallen by the wayside, this annual summit of the House of Justice is waxing stronger, consistently throwing up very useful perspectives and catalyzing positive change, both in our country and beyond.”

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.