Lost land, broken homes: the struggles of returnees and relocated persons in Northeast Nigeria
A new report from the Norwegian Refugee Council, Lost land broken homes: The struggles of returnees and relocated persons in Northeast Nigeria, sheds light on the housing, land, and property (HLP) rights challenges faced by displacement-affected communities being returned or relocated by authorities in Northeast Nigeria. Based on a survey of 150 displaced persons across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, the report exposes critical issues such as land tenure insecurity, widespread housing destruction, legal obstacles, and persistent discrimination against women.
The decade-long insurgency in northeast Nigeria has resulted in the displacement of millions of people, many of whom are now attempting to return to their ancestral lands or are being relocated by the government. However, the process has been fraught with significant HLP challenges, ranging from land disputes to inadequate housing and weak legal frameworks. Many returnees upon return find their homes occupied by others (secondary occupants), damaged or destroyed. The process of reclaiming their HLP assets becomes even more difficult due to existing legal and administrative hurdles.
This report identifies these challenges and provides firsthand accounts from displacement-affected individuals. It also examines the existing legal and institutional frameworks governing land tenure in northeast Nigeria, evaluating their effectiveness in facilitating the return, relocation, and resettlement of displacement-affected persons.
Alarmingly, 72% of returnees lack formal land ownership documents, while 64% report disputes over land upon return. Alongside these statistics, the report amplifies the voices of affected individuals and puts forward urgent policy recommendations to support safe, dignified, and sustainable reintegration.
Photo: Focus group meeting conducted during the survey. Source: Samuel Jegede/NRC.
