Malkohi – The Adamawa State Government has granted Customary Certificates of Occupancy (CofO) to 100 displaced families living in Malkohi community in Yola South Local Government Area, as part of its efforts to enhance the living conditions and protect the human rights of internally displaced persons across the State. 

The granting of CofO was supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as part of its Housing, Land and Property (HLP) initiatives seeking to foster IDPs’ resilience by facilitating the obtention of legal documentation (customary certificate of occupancy) to support their settlement. 

The humanitarian crises and climate related disasters in North-East Nigeria has led to the destruction of housing and livelihood, forcing thousands of people to flee their communities of origin in search for safety. According to recent data from IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), more than 213,000 persons are currently displaced in Adamawa State. 

As they rebuild their lives, one of the key challenges displaced persons often face is access to land, and the protection of their land rights in their new settlements.  

“Without legal recognition and protection of land rights, IDPs are vulnerable to eviction which can cause further displacement, leaving them in a state of uncertainty, but also without prospects for long-term recovery”, explains IOM’s Head of the IOM Sub-Office in Yola, Maliki Hamidine. 

“The question of access to land is often overlooked in discussions on recovery so we congratulate the Adamawa State Government and local government authorities in this endeavour which is an important step in strengthening the resilience of IDPs and putting them on pathways to long-term solutions”, he added. 

HLP initiatives are essential for the long-term recovery of internally displaced persons. Access to land and the protection of land rights empowers IDPs by providing them with a sense of ownership and contributing to their stability in the community Interventions that accords them access to customary land titles contribute to reducing land disputes between displaced and host communities and fosters social cohesion. 

Through its HLP programme, IOM has supported Borno and Adamawa States in granting land certificates to over 500 displaced families. In Adamawa State, IOM has also strengthened the community dispute resolution mechanism in Malkohi, which also serve as a helpdesk   to enhance the community’s capacity to resolve land and property disputes internally.  

IOM’s Housing, Land and Property programme in Adamawa State is support by USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance. For more information, please contact François-Xavier Ada, Public Information Officer. Email: fadaaffana@iom.int.