Study urges Nigerian businesses to harness economic potential of displaced persons as viable workforce, not just aid recipients

A new report unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday has spotlighted Nigeria’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a major but overlooked economic force, urging businesses nationwide to recognise their commercial value. The study, titled ‘Hiding in Plain Sight: Africa’s $27 Billion Displacement Market Opportunity’, was launched by the Amahoro Coalition and estimates that Africa’s 43.1 million displaced people generate around $27 billion (about ₦12.6 trillion) annually.

According to the report, more than half of these displaced persons are already engaged in various economic activities across the continent, contributing significantly to sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, finance, entrepreneurship and supply chains. In Nigeria alone, IDPs represent a sizeable untapped workforce with the potential to drive national growth if given adequate access to opportunities and resources.

The report further projects that unlocking land access for displaced communities could add an extra $2.4 billion (₦1.1 trillion) in agricultural output across Africa. The Amahoro Coalition argued at the launch that Nigerian stakeholders—including government agencies, private sector investors and development partners—should move away from viewing IDPs and refugees solely as humanitarian beneficiaries and instead see them as commercially viable contributors who can boost productivity and innovation.

Speaking at the event, representatives of the coalition highlighted the importance of integrating IDPs into mainstream economic activities. They called for reforms that would allow easier access to land, credit facilities and job placements for displaced persons. “If we create pathways for IDPs to participate fully in economic life, we will not only improve their livelihoods but also unlock billions of naira in value creation,” a strategy custodian for partnerships at the coalition said during the presentation.

With Nigeria facing persistent internal displacement due to conflict and climate-related disasters—especially in North-East states—the report’s findings have renewed calls for inclusive policies that empower affected communities. Experts say that leveraging this labour pool could help address unemployment while boosting sectors like agriculture where manpower shortages persist.

The coalition urged policymakers at all levels to adopt evidence-based strategies from the report and work with local leaders to remove barriers limiting IDP participation in formal markets. It also encouraged corporate organisations to design products and services tailored to displaced populations’ needs.

As at press time, federal authorities had yet to issue an official response to the recommendations. However, humanitarian agencies welcomed the research as a “game-changer” for how displacement is understood within Nigeria’s economy.

Source: https://guardian.ng/news/nigerias-idps-hold-untapped-economic-potential-new-report-says/