Summary of needs
The path to recovery, local integration and sustainable return can be compromised by tenure insecurity. Many displaced individuals have lost vital documentation and land registries have been destroyed. Housing, land and property (HLP) issues, such as secondary occupation, squatting, ownership disputes, boundary conflicts and forced evictions, are prevalent in areas of displacement and return/repatriation or relocation. These arise largely as a result of weak dispute resolution mechanisms and the destruction of HLP assets by armed conflict and natural disasters. Legal pluralism creates friction between statutory and customary land tenure systems, further complicating the protection of HLP rights. New land administrative policies have heightened the risk of evictions for displaced persons settling on private land, while illegal land sales and grabbing persist due to a lack of awareness of HLP rights. An estimated 1.4 million people are in critical need of HLP assistance, with women and other marginalized groups particularly affected.
Response strategy
The HLP AoR will implement a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing awareness of HLP rights, providing counselling services, ensuring due diligence in HLP-related implementations, offering legal assistance on HLP tenure security, addressing HLP disputes including forced evictions, and building the capacity of local actors/institutions to support durable HLP solutions. The AoR will collaborate with local authorities and communities to establish effective land access processes and strengthen existing dispute resolution mechanisms. Protecting vulnerable populations – especially women and those facing eviction – is central to this response. The HLP AoR will prioritize activities that foster community engagement and resilience-building initiatives to promote sustainable recovery.
Targeting & prioritization
Response efforts will prioritize IDPs, returnees and host community members in areas with high HLP concerns. Special attention will be given to female- headed households, women, girls, the elderly and people with disabilities. The geographical focus will be on conflict-affected areas in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, as well as areas impacted by flooding and disease outbreaks, ensuring equitable access to HLP assistance, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
In Borno, where the situation remains particularly challenging, efforts will focus on the most vulnerable individuals, including those living in informal settlements without secure tenure, those who have been relocated, repatriated or returned – either independently or by the government – and people facing HLP disputes or violations. Special attention will be given to vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, women- and child-headed households, families with elderly or chronically ill members, and households with extremely low or no income. In Adamawa and Yobe states, where there are fewer camps, the HLP AoR will focus on displaced individuals in host communities, those affected by communal clashes, and returnees, including refugees in border towns – using the same vulnerability criteria.
Promoting accountable, quality & inclusive programming
To ensure accountability and inclusivity, the response will integrate mechanisms for community feedback and PSEA, as well as gender-sensitive approaches. Emphasis will be placed on legal aid for disputes over land and property rights, with legal assistance programmes designed to empower women, girls, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. Training on safe and inclusive programming will be provided to all actors, with a particular focus on AAP principles.