Oluremi Tinubu Unveils IDPs Resettlement Centre in Nasarawa

Nigeria's First Lady, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu

A New Dawn in Yar-Kande: Reimagining Resettlement in Nigeria

On June 14, 2025, in the tranquil community of Yar-Kande, Keffi, Nasarawa State, a new chapter in Nigeria’s humanitarian efforts quietly unfolded. Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, inaugurated a model resettlement centre designed to provide permanent homes and renewed hope for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.

Constructed by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the resettlement facility now accommodates 40 households—239 individuals—who had once lived in uncertain, makeshift conditions. Yet beyond bricks and mortar, this centre represents a broader vision: transitioning from emergency relief to sustainable reintegration.

Designing Dignity: More Than Shelter

With vocational training centres, solar-powered homes, a hospital, schools, religious facilities, and 100 hectares of farmland, the centre is designed to empower—not just resettle. In her address, Senator Tinubu emphasized that “resettlement must go hand in hand with empowerment.” Her words echoed the guiding ethos of the Renewed Hope Agenda: a commitment to restoring dignity, security, and opportunity for all Nigerians.

Beneficiaries like Cameroonian refugee leader Mr. Earnest Cho voiced deep appreciation. “Living in a free accommodation and farming community,” he said, “has brought peace to our hearts.” His gratitude was tempered only by requests for further support: notably, access to the national electricity grid and improved mobility to better integrate with surrounding communities.

A Historical Arc of Resettlement

Nigeria’s resettlement journey has evolved across decades. Post–World War II, the colonial government established vocational centres for demobilized soldiers. Following the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), these efforts expanded into more robust rehabilitation programs such as the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC).

Urban resettlement emerged in the 1970s during Abuja’s development, forcing a shift from complete relocation to in-situ integration—a move that spurred ongoing challenges in land use and infrastructure.

The contemporary model, exemplified by Yar-Kande, is rooted in response to humanitarian crises—from armed conflict to natural disasters—marking a new era focused on durable solutions, not temporary refuge.

Hope in Practice—and in Policy

The opening of the Yar-Kande centre was met with endorsement across federal and state levels. Nasarawa Governor Dr. Abdullahi Sule highlighted the collaboration between government tiers, and Humanitarian Affairs Minister Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda affirmed plans to replicate the model nationwide.

Yet challenges remain: ensuring long-term funding for services, preventing economic marginalization, fostering community cohesion, and maintaining infrastructure. The sustainability of Yar-Kande—and its potential successors—will depend on inclusive policy planning and ongoing civic engagement.

A Blueprint for Belonging

The Yar-Kande resettlement centre stands as both a physical community and a metaphorical one—a reminder that displacement is not a dead end, but a point of renewal. For its residents, the journey from displacement to dignity has begun. For Nigeria, the project sets a precedent: one in which resettlement is not the end of crisis, but the start of lasting inclusion.