Public Administration and the Management of Internal Displacement in Benue State

This study examines how public administration frameworks in Benue State, located in Nigeria's North Central geopolitical zone, have responded to the challenge of managing internally displaced persons (IDPs) resulting from farmer-herder conflicts. Benue State has been one of the most affected Nigerian states in recent years, with hundreds of thousands of persons displaced by recurring violence. Employing a descriptive research design, the study used structured questionnaires and focus group discussions to gather data from 265 IDP camp administrators, state emergency management officials, humanitarian workers, and displaced community leaders in three local government areas. The Crisis Management Theory provides the theoretical foundation, emphasising the importance of preparedness, coordination, and adaptive response in managing humanitarian emergencies. Findings reveal that IDP camp conditions are inadequate, characterised by overcrowding, poor nutrition, and limited healthcare access, largely due to insufficient state funding and poor inter-agency coordination. The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) lacks the human and logistical capacity to effectively manage the scale of displacement. The study recommends the establishment of a dedicated IDP management unit within the state's administrative structure, regular inter-agency coordination meetings, and the integration of IDP return and reintegration programmes into state development planning. Keywords: internal displacement, public administration, Benue State, humanitarian management, crisis response.