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Monday Joseph · Department of Environmental Health Sciences · M.Sc. · 2026

Internal displacement in North Central Nigeria has reached a critical humanitarian threshold, driven by the compounding effects of farmer-herder conflicts, ethno-religious violence, and climate-induced environmental disasters. Despite the proliferation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across Benue State, Plateau State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a significant gap existed in empirical, planning-oriented research examining how the physical and spatial characteristics of displacement settlements shape long-term living conditions and livelihood outcomes. This study addressed that gap by assessing the living conditions of IDPs in North Central Nigeria and identifying the spatial, socio-economic, and institutional determinants of their welfare. The study adopted a mixed-methods research design incorporating a cross sectional quantitative survey, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). A total of 390 IDP households were sampled across the three study locations using a multi-stage stratified and cluster random sampling procedure, and structured questionnaire responses were additionally collected from 90 officials and community stakeholders — comprising governmental agency staff, NGO personnel, community leaders, and healthcare providers. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Multiple Linear Regression, and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc Tukey HSD comparisons via SPSS version 27.0. Qualitative data were analysed through thematic and content analysis. Internal consistency of the official stakeholder perception scale was assessed using Cronbach's alpha prior to inferential testing. Findings from the IDP sample revealed that displacement had severely disrupted pre-existing livelihoods, with 52.6% of respondents relying on humanitarian aid as their primary income source and 54.6% earning less than ₦10,000 per month. Women constituted 63.1% of the total IDP population surveyed. Hypothesis One confirmed that Housing Adequacy positively and significantly predicts IDP living conditions (β = 0.869, R² = 0.755, F = 1,196.096, p < 0.001). Hypothesis Two confirmed that composite spatial and environmental camp conditions collectively explain 90.7% of the variance in living condition scores (R² = 0.908, F = 632.021, p < 0.001). Hypothesis Three confirmed statistically significant spatial disparities across study locations (F = 64.396, p < 0.001), with Plateau State recording the highest mean living condition score (M = 3.48), followed by the FCT (M = 3.02) and Benue State (M = 2.84). Analysis of the official sub-sample (N = 90) revealed that officials rated the overall governance and stakeholder environment less favourably than IDPs on nine of ten matched items, with a composite Stakeholder Perception Index of 2.881 compared with 3.196 for the IDP sample. The largest divergence appeared on "Governmental support for IDPs is adequate" (Officials M = 1.99, IDPs M = 3.06). Both samples converged in identifying IDP inclusion in decision-making as the weakest governance dimension. The official perception scale did not achieve internal consistency as a unidimensional instrument (α = 0.230), reflecting a bifactorial item structure that warrants future scale refinement. Inferential testing of the official composite score revealed a significant and very large effect of educational attainment (Welch t(76.9) = −8.760, p < .001, Cohen's d = −1.790), but no significant gender difference (t(88) = −1.643, p = .104). vi The study concludes that IDP settlements in North Central Nigeria currently function as emergency warehousing arrangements rather than planned living environments, failing to meet the minimum spatial and service standards prescribed by the Sphere Humanitarian Standards (2018) and the UNHCR Transitional Settlement and Reconstruction framework. The two-perspective governance analysis — combining IDP beneficiary and official self-assessments of the same governance dimensions — provides converging evidence of a structural governance deficit that is visible from both sides of the service relationship. The study recommends, inter alia, the formal adoption of the Transitional Settlement framework, enforcement of minimum spatial standards, institutionalisation of participatory IDP governance, and implementation of gender-responsive physical design standards.