Nigeria

Summary of needs

Approximately 3.38 million people (47 per cent IDPs, 28 per cent returnees, and 25 per cent host community members) across the BAY states need shelter and NFI assistance, an increase of 5 per cent from 2024. Of these, 96 per cent have ‘severe’ needs and 4 per cent have ‘extreme’ needs (severity levels 3 and 4). Around 23 per cent of the displaced population live in makeshift shelters constructed with poor quality flammable material. The lack of dignified living spaces contributes to a deterioration in already precarious living conditions by increasing protection and health risks, especially among women.

Shelter and NFI needs will remain relatively high across all categories of the affected population, affecting an estimated 676,000 households. Camp closures in Borno State, if not adequately planned, will also lead to the mushrooming of spontaneous settlements, increasing the need for shelter solution responses. The general lack of land tenure agreements makes IDPs vulnerable to eviction. This is exacerbated by a lack of suitable land for constructing additional shelters; 46 per cent of IDP sites are in congested flood-prone areas.

In 2024, 84 per cent of shelter and NFI needs remained unmet. Around 1,870 households were sleeping in the open, 9,013 households were living in seven overly crowded reception centres, and 168,932 households were living in highly congested camp sites. A further 189,473 households were living in makeshift shelters, and 117,223 households were sharing with families and friends in small-sized shelters. This old caseload will contribute, in part, to the projected needs in 2025. This challenge extends to host communities facing competition for resources while the transitional needs of returnees remain unmet, with many living in either fully or partially damaged or self-made dilapidated shelters.

Response strategy

In 2025, the Shelter/NFI Sector aims to assist 1.53 million individuals, including 376,000 women and 965,000 children. Among these, 21,122 individuals are identified as having a disability. The aim is to enhance living conditions through collaborative efforts with 19 partners and local partnerships. Localization and HLP support are key to offering secure, long-term shelter solutions and tenure, ensuring safety during transitions.

The Shelter/NFI Sector will advocate for the inclusion of disaster risk reduction measures in the design and construction of shelters and settlements. Integrating the centrality of protection and environmental risk analysis into the shelter response will contribute to multifaceted shelter solutions that encourage peaceful coexistence and environmentally sustainable rebuilding through a phased, hands-on community approach. This strategy will support affected populations in transitioning to recovery and in building resilience. The Sector will aim for quality (greater sustainability) over quantity during the last phase of the shelter response.

During the coming year, approximately 532,384 individuals are expected to be impacted by floods. The Sector will prioritize areas at risk of flooding due to climate change and inadequate watershed management. The response will focus on the following interventions: (i) providing emergency/transitional shelters through in-kind kits, cash or vouchers; (ii) rehabilitating deteriorated buildings and establishing rental strategies; (iii) distributing shelter repair kits; and (iv) distributing NFIs through anticipatory action and rapid response mechanisms (RRM).

Targeting & prioritization

The Shelter/NFI Sector will prioritize those living in substandard conditions, including individuals living outside in the open or in makeshift shelters, and those affected by natural disasters (flood, wind, rain and fire) living in damaged shelters (partially or fully). In 2025, there will likely be more people who need shelter and NFI responses, including IDPs, returnees and host community members. This is primarily because of ongoing insecurity, seasonal flooding, fires in camps, a surge in returnees, and evictions due to unresolved HLP issues, all of which could trigger further displacement.

Additionally, climate-induced displacement coupled with reduced funding will continue to pose a significant challenge to meeting these needs. The Sector will emphasize innovative, cost-effective shelter solutions, locally available construction materials, and the engagement of local labour to empower beneficiaries and enhance long-term sustainability through income generation. Shelter and settlement programming will integrate environmental and climate change considerations and disaster risk reduction measures to combat flooding and fire outbreaks. The aim is to help reduce the impacts on disaster-affected populations, improve their living conditions and enable self-recovery.

Promoting accountable, quality & inclusive programming

The Sector continues to promote accountable, quality and inclusive programming, integrated into all phases of the response. The aims is to enhance the well- being and resilience of affected communities through clear communication of available services, timely and appropriate responses to feedback and complaints, and regular training for staff and communities on PSEA policies and reporting mechanisms. Protection principles are integrated into all aspects of programming to ensure that responses are not only effective but also equitable and respectful of people’s dignity. The Sector will continuously monitor the situation along with partners to identify needs and assess risk factors using various tools like the 4W, and Incident Tracking tool. Anticipatory action will be triggered through analysis and early warning systems to respond to potential crises. The Sector will continue monitoring for emerging needs, regularly assess the situation, and conduct risk analysis for the affected population and vulnerable individuals. This will be done through tools such as site trackers, DTM assessments, field assessments and site visits, as well as market assessments to update rental rates and the cost of shelter materials and NFIs. Additionally, the Sector will carry out quarterly fund mapping, pre- and post-construction or distribution monitoring reports, joint monitoring exercises by the technical working group, and annual reviews to evaluate the response's performance, technical quality and efficiency.

Cost of response

In 2025, the Shelter/NFI Sector requires $54.7 million to assist 1.53 million individuals. The cost of the response has increased compared to the previous years due to currency fluctuations, a rise in the price of materials and transportation, insecurity, and access challenges, as well as a shift from emergency response to durable and transitional shelter solutions to support recovery efforts for displaced populations. The large gap in the Sector’s response is due to the dilapidated state of many shelters that are now beyond their lifespan, the constant flow of IDPs including new arrivals and returnees, new and secondary displacements caused by climatic shocks and government policies, and, last but not least, the accumulated unmet need from 2024 due to the significant shortfall in funding – the Sector only received $7.8 million of the $58 million ask.