NCFRMI: Refugees Commision Plans Repatriation of 4982 Nigerians from Cameroon
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in collaboration with other agencies planned repatriations of of 4982 Nigerians from Cameroon.
Most the Nigerian refugees lived at Minawo Camp in the Far North Region of Cameroon.
The Federal Commissioner NCFRMI, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed said President Muhammadu Buhari gave the directive for the repatriation.
The repatriation exercise is in line with the Tripartite Agreement signed by Cameroon, Nigeria and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Offices in Nigeria and Cameroon.
Represented by the Director, Refugees and Migrants Affairs, Mr. Tai Ejibunu at the Minawo Camp, the Commissioner said representatives of the Nigerian Government engaged in series of meetings with the Cameroonian counterparts and UNHCR officials discussing on the modalities and implementation strategies for the repatriation.
Senator Mohammed said “We are here with members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Voluntary Repatriation of Nigerian Refugees in Cameroon to signify our commitment to implement presidential directive to the NCFRMI to facilitate the repatriation of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republics.”
PRNigeria gathered that the Borno State Government made provision for the repatriation of 403 Households consisting of 3224 individuals and 348 Households made up of 1758 persons for resettlement in Banki and Bama Towns respectively, totaling 4982 persons.
The Nigerian government initiated durable solution programmes to cater for the needs of the refugees.
Some of the programmes include the Resettlement Cities and Project Reliance, designed to provide shelter and means of livelihood to refugees upon their repatriation to Nigeria.
Mr. Ejibunu was accompanied to the Minawo Camp by the Charge D’Affaires of the Nigerian High Commission to Cameroon, Mr. Olanrewaju Rilwan Olajide and other members of the TWG drawn from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development; Foreign Affairs; NSCDC; ONSA; NEMA; Nigeria Immigration Service; DSS; Defence Headquarters; Budget and National Planning and NCFRMI.
During the team’s interaction with the refugees, the session expressed the gratitude of the Federal Government of Nigeria to President Paul Biya and the good people of Cameroon for accommodating the Nigerian refugees.
The UNHCR Cameroon Office was also commended for managing the affairs of the refugees since their arrival in that country.
By PRNigeria
