Paper short abstract:

In Nigeria, the number of forced migrants and the displaced people continues to increase exponentially due to conflicts and insurgency in various parts of the country with the North- Eastern part of the country being the most affected.

Paper long abstract:

The Displacement Tracking Matrix Round 29 Report revealed that internal displacement in Nigeria is caused by insurgency (91.0%), communal clash (8.0%) and natural disaster (1.0%). Insurgency in Nigeria remains persistent with attacks on civilians by the terrorist group 'Boko Haram'. Over the past six years, these attacks led to loss of lives and properties, human and material insecurity, loss of livelihood and outright displacement. Displacement has many consequences: erodes human capital, increases poverty amongst people who would have been productive; radicalises displaced people, supports regional and global security threats emergence and destabilises host governments or communities. This situation has led to high dependence on humanitarian assistance from Government and Non-governmental Organisations. This study sought to increase understanding on how potentials from 'displacement' can be harnessed to drive development through livelihood improvement by answering the following questions: what efforts are being made towards restoring or accessing new livelihoods to support the internally displaced in host communities? What livelihood strategies advance the rights and well-being of internally displaced persons? What are the potential contributions of innovative livelihood initiatives to peace building and the pursuit of durable solutions to displacement? Findings from this paper has identified that development and humanitarian actors can reinforce humanitarian precepts such as restoring dignity, improving protection, reducing dependency and vulnerability and increasing empowerment with development instruments which promote economic well-being, self-reliance and resilience. Also, host communities are crucial in improving the lives of displaced persons by allowing them to use lands temporarily for livelihood purposes.