Assessment of the Impact of Resettlement and Reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons on the Sustainability of Peacebuilding in Borno State, Nigeria

This paper examines the impact of resettlement and reintegration interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State, Nigeria, and their implications for sustainable peacebuilding in a post-insurgency context. The study is anchored on a combination of Vulnerability Theory and Conflict Transformation Theory. While Vulnerability Theory explains the socio-economic insecurity and institutional challenges faced by displaced persons, Conflict Transformation Theory provides a framework for understanding how reintegration and peacebuilding interventions can rebuild social cohesion, restore livelihoods, and promote long-term peace and stability in conflict-affected communities. Using qualitative data generated through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with returnees and resettled IDPs in three local government areas - Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Jere, and Bama; the study explores how resettlement initiatives have influenced livelihoods, social cohesion, and human security. The findings reveal that although these interventions have contributed to improved welfare and relative community stability, their long-term sustainability is constrained by weak institutional coordination, inadequate funding, and limited community participation. The paper argues that effective peacebuilding requires sustained, participatory, and well-coordinated interventions that integrate economic empowerment, social cohesion, institutional accountability, and community resilience. It therefore recommends strengthening policy frameworks, promoting local ownership, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and expanding livelihood support to improve the sustainability of resettlement and reintegration programmes in Borno State.

Resettlement; Reintegration; Sustainable Peacebuilding; Internally Displaced Persons; Sustainable Interventions.

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