The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated a move to mobilise private investment worth $10 billion over five years to rebuild livelihoods, create jobs, and stimulate economic activity in communities affected by displacement and fragility across the country. This initiative is being developed in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), development finance institutions, and the private sector. The goal is to shift the response to displacement from predominantly humanitarian assistance towards sustainable livelihoods, enterprise development, and private-sector-led economic recovery.
The proposed Leadership Alliance for Enterprise, Acceleration, and Prosperity (LEAP) will initially target 10 states affected by displacement and insecurity. The Federal Government aims to develop a model that can eventually be replicated across the country. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, disclosed the government's readiness to support the initiative when he received a UNHCR delegation led by its Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Arjun Jain.
According to Bagudu, displacement is not simply a humanitarian challenge but an economic problem capable of destroying livelihoods, weakening local markets, and deepening poverty if affected populations are not quickly reintegrated into productive economic activity. He emphasized that the restoration of livelihoods is central to any sustainable reintegration programme and that returning displaced persons to their communities without restoring their economic capacity would leave the underlying problem unresolved.
The Minister said the Federal Government is prepared to use public resources strategically to de-risk private investment in vulnerable communities where insecurity, poor infrastructure, and disrupted economic activity make investors reluctant to commit capital. He identified security support, access roads, and other critical infrastructure as areas where government intervention could unlock private capital.
The UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, Arjun Jain, said the initiative is designed to move the organisation's intervention beyond traditional humanitarian support towards self-reliance, sustainable livelihoods, and economic inclusion. He cited the organisation's partnership with Tropical General Investments (TGI) as an example, which is expected to support more than 5,000 farmers and create over 10,000 jobs.
Jain said UNHCR's current operation identifies more than 3.7 million internally displaced people and over 140,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Nigeria. He emphasized that the organisation is intensifying engagement with private companies, state governments, and development partners to develop investment opportunities capable of benefiting displaced persons and host communities.
The LEAP initiative will bring together government, private investors, development finance institutions, and development partners to identify viable investments, mobilise financing, and reduce risks that could otherwise prevent businesses from entering fragile communities. The goal is to create opportunities across communities and build an inclusive economy.
Key points
- The Federal Government and UNHCR aim to mobilise $10 billion over five years to rebuild livelihoods and stimulate economic activity in displacement-hit communities.
- The initiative will initially target 10 states affected by displacement and insecurity, with the goal of replicating the model across the country.
- The programme seeks to shift the response to displacement from humanitarian assistance towards sustainable livelihoods, enterprise development, and private-sector-led economic recovery.
