Service Deprivation in Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps in Nigeria: Case Study of Abuja

Abstract

Internal displacement is a global social and political issue. Although violence-induced internal displacement in Nigeria is traceable to the civil war, the phenomenon has assumed a worrisome dimension and proportion with the increasing rate of insurgency, armed banditry, and farmer-herdsmen crises. This study aimed at assessing service deprivation in internally displaced person camps in Nigeria, using Abuja as a case study. The objectives were to identify the types of services delivered to internally displaced persons; investigate the internally displaced persons’ level of satisfaction services provided, and evaluate the relationship between gender and wellbeing deprivation among the internally displaced persons. Systematic random sampling technique was used to administer 375 copies structured questionnaire to the internally displaced persons in Abuja out of which 287 were completed and successfully retrieved. Data analysis was carried out with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and it was discovered that more than 63% of the displaced persons are not educated beyond primary school, indicating low literacy level. It was also discovered that internally displaced persons experience severe housing, water, and energy poverty. Chi-Square test revealed that there is no statistically significant relationship between gender of the internally displaced persons and their wellbeing, X² (2, n = 287) = 4.674, p = .097. The study recommended that quality schools and housing should be provided to the internally displaced persons’ camps. The provision of potable water and clean domestic energy to the internally displaced persons’ camps were also recommended.