The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it carried out 87 relief interventions for about 17,000 displaced persons in the North-West zone of Nigeria during 2025. The agency said the operations were in response to crises including banditry, flooding, rainstorms, windstorms, fire outbreaks and communal clashes.
Mr Sani Lokoja, NEMA North-West Zonal Director, said the interventions covered people forced from their homes by various disasters. He spoke during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Kaduna.
He said Kaduna State recorded the highest number of interventions with 34 operations, followed by Sokoto with 33 and Kano with 20. Lokoja said Kebbi State recorded 16 interventions, Katsina State had 14, Jigawa State had seven and Zamfara State had six interventions.
According to Lokoja, banditry remained a major cause of displacement in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and parts of Kebbi States. He said flooding and windstorms accounted for many of the relief operations in Kano and Jigawa States while fire outbreaks affected both urban and rural communities across the zone.
Banditry, communal violence and climate-related hazards have driven displacement across northern Nigeria in recent years. A recent global displacement report shows that millions of people in Nigeria and other countries have been driven from their homes by conflict and disasters.
Lokoja said NEMA provided relief materials and emergency support to displaced and affected persons in the zone in line with its mandate. He said the agency worked with state and local governments and other stakeholders to stabilise affected communities.
He also highlighted the need to strengthen preparedness and coordination to address rising security and climate-related risks affecting displaced populations.
Humanitarian response: Regular interventions aim to reduce suffering among displaced persons due to violence and disasters.
Regional stability: Relief operations help support communities affected by insecurity and climate hazards.
Future needs: Rising displacement in Nigeria linked to insecurity and environmental shocks highlights the need for coordinated long-term support.
NEMA plans to continue relief operations in 2026 and to work with partners to improve disaster response and management for displaced populations across the country.
