Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for improved living conditions and better facilities for internally displaced persons during a visit to the Ramin Kura IDP Camp in Sokoto State.
Obi visited the camp in Sokoto on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, alongside his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as part of their wider engagements in the state ahead of the 2027 general election.
The visit brought attention to the conditions facing displaced Nigerians in Sokoto, where communities affected by insecurity have been forced to leave their homes and seek shelter in other locations.
Reports from the visit said the politicians interacted with displaced residents and inspected conditions at the camp.
Obi Calls for Improved Conditions
During the visit, Obi called for urgent attention to the facilities available to displaced people at Ramin Kura.
His appeal centred on the need to improve the conditions under which displaced families are living and ensure that people who have been forced from their homes receive adequate support.
The call comes as insecurity continues to contribute to displacement across parts of Nigeria’s North-West.
Sokoto has experienced attacks and other security challenges that have contributed to the movement of residents from affected communities. Recent reporting on the region has documented continuing insecurity in Sokoto and neighbouring Katsina, despite security operations and local peace initiatives.
The humanitarian situation therefore extends beyond the immediate provision of shelter. Displaced families can require access to food, clean water, healthcare, sanitation, education, protection and security while they remain away from their communities.
Obi and Kwankwaso Visit Ramin Kura
Obi and Kwankwaso’s visit to Ramin Kura formed part of a broader programme of engagements in Sokoto.
The pair also met the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, where discussions included national unity, insecurity, poverty and employment, according to reports from their visit.
They later participated in political engagements with residents and supporters in the state.
The visit to the IDP camp placed humanitarian concerns alongside the wider political discussions taking place during their Sokoto tour.
Obi and Kwankwaso are campaigning as the NDC presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential election, making their activities in the state part of an increasingly active political period.
Their political status is important context when assessing statements made during the visit, including calls for government action.
Ramin Kura’s Humanitarian Challenges
Ramin Kura has been used for years as a settlement for people displaced by insecurity and other circumstances in parts of Sokoto.
Humanitarian organisations working in the area have previously identified challenges involving shelter, water, sanitation, healthcare, nutrition and security.
The Asattahir International Foundation, which has implemented humanitarian interventions at Ramin Kura, has reported providing food, health, water, sanitation and non-food assistance to displaced people at the location.
In 2023, the organisation said inadequate space, access to clean drinking water and security were among the challenges affecting displaced people at the camp.
It also worked with the Danish Refugee Council to distribute emergency shelter kits and non-food items to displaced people at Ramin Kura and other settlements in Sokoto.
These interventions indicate that the needs of displaced communities in the area have included both immediate humanitarian relief and longer-term improvements in living conditions.
Displacement Driven by Insecurity
The situation at Ramin Kura is connected to the wider displacement crisis in Nigeria’s North-West.
Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and neighbouring states have experienced attacks by armed groups, including banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violence.
A 2025 Premium Times report on displaced children in Sokoto documented families living in Ramin Kura and other locations after fleeing violence from their communities.
The report described how prolonged displacement has affected children’s education, family stability and access to basic necessities.
The humanitarian consequences can continue long after people leave areas affected by violence.
For families unable to return home, displacement can mean prolonged dependence on humanitarian assistance and limited access to livelihoods.
Children may also face interrupted education, while women, elderly people and people with disabilities can face additional protection and healthcare challenges.
Beyond Food and Shelter
Improving conditions for displaced Nigerians requires more than distributing emergency food.
Humanitarian responses generally involve several interconnected areas, including shelter, water and sanitation, healthcare, nutrition, education, protection and livelihood support.
At Ramin Kura, humanitarian organisations have previously undertaken programmes covering several of these areas.
Asattahir International Foundation said its interventions have included nutrition support, healthcare, WASH services, menstrual hygiene assistance and non-food items. It also reported using a digital information management system to improve tracking of beneficiaries and monitoring of humanitarian services.
Education is another concern.
A local humanitarian initiative previously established a learning centre at Ramin Kura to provide basic literacy, numeracy and life-skills education to displaced children who lacked access to formal schooling. The programme reported enrolling more than 100 learners.
Such interventions show the breadth of services required when displacement becomes prolonged.
The Challenge of Long-Term Displacement
For displaced Nigerians, temporary shelter can become a long-term reality when insecurity prevents safe return to their communities.
This creates pressure on host communities and humanitarian organisations while also increasing the need for government involvement.
The situation documented at Ramin Kura illustrates this challenge.
Families displaced by violence may need assistance for extended periods while waiting for security conditions to improve enough for voluntary and safe return.
At the same time, governments and humanitarian organisations must address immediate needs without losing sight of longer-term solutions, including security, reconstruction, livelihood restoration and access to public services.
Government and Humanitarian Responsibility
Obi’s call for improved conditions comes amid an ongoing debate about the responsibilities of government toward internally displaced Nigerians.
Federal, state and local authorities have responsibilities relating to emergency response, security and public services, while humanitarian organisations and development partners often provide additional support.
Previous interventions at Ramin Kura have involved Sokoto State agencies and humanitarian organisations.
For example, Sokoto State authorities previously distributed insecticide-treated nets and antimalarial drugs to IDP camps, including Ramin Kura, as part of a health intervention.
Humanitarian organisations have also worked with state agencies on food distribution, sanitation, shelter and non-food assistance.
The continuing presence of displaced people, however, means that such interventions remain part of a broader and ongoing challenge.
Political Context of the Visit
The visit also took place against the background of preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
Obi and Kwankwaso are currently the NDC presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively, and their Sokoto engagements included meetings with traditional leaders and political supporters.
That context means statements made during the visit should be understood as part of a political engagement as well as a humanitarian visit.
Obi’s call for improved facilities is a political position concerning the treatment of displaced Nigerians. The available reporting establishes that the visit occurred and that humanitarian challenges exist at Ramin Kura, but it does not independently establish that every condition referenced by political actors during the visit applies uniformly to all residents.
Why the Ramin Kura Issue Matters
The situation at Ramin Kura highlights a wider national challenge: displacement cannot be addressed solely through temporary relief.
When insecurity forces people from their homes, the consequences extend into education, healthcare, livelihoods, housing and family welfare.
For Nigeria, the challenge is particularly significant because displacement has affected several regions of the country over an extended period.
The experience of displaced families in Sokoto also demonstrates why security and humanitarian policy are closely connected.
Improved security can create the conditions necessary for people to return home, while effective humanitarian assistance can help protect those who cannot safely return.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is whether the concerns raised during the visit will lead to additional government or humanitarian action at Ramin Kura.
Obi’s call for better facilities does not, by itself, constitute a government policy decision or a confirmed funding commitment.
Any concrete response would require action by the relevant federal and Sokoto State authorities, humanitarian agencies and other partners responsible for displacement management.
Longer-term progress will also depend on security conditions in communities from which residents were displaced.
For displaced families, the most significant outcome would ultimately be the restoration of conditions that allow them to return safely and rebuild their livelihoods.
Until that becomes possible, adequate shelter, healthcare, water, sanitation, education, food and protection remain essential.
The visit by Obi and Kwankwaso has therefore brought renewed political attention to the situation at Ramin Kura, while the underlying humanitarian challenge remains part of Nigeria’s wider struggle with insecurity and displacement.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Parallel Facts
- Channels Television
- Premium Times
- Asattahir International Foundation
- Punch
- UNHCR
