The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting and protecting vulnerable groups across Nigeria, ensuring that their situations are properly documented, analysed, and addressed in line with evolving human rights realities.
Dr. Ojukwu, who was represented by the Director of Legal Services and Enforcement, Mrs. Rabi Anwal, made this known during the presentation of the February and March 2026 Human Rights Dashboard, developed to track issues affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees in nine project states.
He described the dashboard as a significant milestone in the Commission’s efforts to strengthen data-driven responses to human rights concerns. According to him, the platform is designed to enhance documentation, analysis, and response to the changing protection environment affecting displaced and vulnerable populations.
The NHRC boss noted that data generated over the two reporting months indicates a persistent and growing protection crisis, highlighting the need for sustained attention and strategic intervention by relevant stakeholders.
He stressed that the Commission will continue to highlight developments within the protection space to ensure timely and effective responses.
Dr. Ojukwu also commended the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its continued technical and financial support and further praised human rights monitors and Community Action Group members for their dedication and courage, noting that their contributions are critical to the credibility and success of the dashboard initiative.
In his remarks, the UNHCR representative, Owoche Igwue, lauded the NHRC for the initiative, describing it as a vital tool for enhancing evidence-based decision-making, accountability, and coordination among stakeholders.
He emphasised that reliable data is essential for effective protection, as it enables stakeholders to better understand needs, design targeted interventions, and ensure that the rights of displaced populations are not overlooked.
He also highlighted the importance of responsible data management, stressing that all information must be handled with strict adherence to confidentiality and protection protocols.
Mr. Igwue reaffirmed UNHCR’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s protection systems and advancing durable solutions for displaced persons across the country.
The National Coordinator of the project, Benedict Agu, disclosed that the initiative was implemented across nine states, covering three to four local government areas in Benue, Katsina, Cross River, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kano States.
He explained that the project covers not only IDPs but also returnees, asylum seekers, refugees, and their children. It documents the number of human rights cases managed and referred, while highlighting both the lowest and highest occurrences of human rights incidents across the states.
According to him, key drivers of internal and forced displacement in the project areas include communal clashes, herders-farmers conflicts, and terrorism.
Benue State recorded the highest number of displaced persons at 4,187, while Cross River State recorded the lowest with 72, bringing the total number of displaced persons to 10,884.
Dr. Agu further revealed that data on human rights incidents showed that access to education recorded the highest number of cases at 2,851, while freedom of movement recorded the least with 10 cases, bringing the total number of human rights incidents to 5,435.
On response efforts, he stated that 374 cases were managed directly, while 5,061 cases were referred to other relevant organisations for further action.
Providing a summary of the February and March dashboard, Dr. Agu said the figures captured include 10,884 displaced persons, 527 asylum seekers, 1,159 refugees, and 2,213 returnees across the project states.
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