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FG, Cameroon Parley On Repatriation Of Nigerian Refugees

• Roll out resettlement, business plans for returnees


A Technical Working Group meeting of the Tripartite Commission for the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon has ended in Maroua, Cameroun.

The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Senator Basheer Lado, who led the Nigerian delegation met with officials of the Cameroonian Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Maroua, Cameroon at the weekend to develop practical modalities to continue the repatriation of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon.

The meeting came on the heels of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that all Nigerian refugees in Cameroon be returned home safely to a life of dignity with immediate effect.

The Commissioner who was represented by NCFRMI’s Director of Refugees and Migration, Tai Hassan Ejibunu affirmed that the support of Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development towards ensuring voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon cannot be over-emphasised.

Senator Lado, who doubles as Chairman, Technical Working Group of Nigeria on the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees, said that the TWGs’ meeting is a forerunner to the Tripartite Commission (TC) meeting scheduled to hold February 10, 2021.

“The meeting this week will provide the latitude and platform for officials of both counties to have in-depth discussions on the protocols and strategies to follow in repatriating several thousands of Nigerian Refugees that are stationed in Minawao Camp in the Republic of Cameroon.

“I urge officials of both countries to be open in their discussions while putting into consideration the interest of the refugees, following international best practices and the guidance of our Technical Partner, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Offices in Nigeria and Cameroon.

“I thank the UNHCR Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Chansa Kapaya, for her invaluable contribution, assistance and collaboration in all spheres to ensure that discussions are held regularly on how best to tackle the repatriation of these Persons of Concerns (PoCs) to Nigeria.

“The Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum has demonstrated uncommon passion in ensuring that the citizens of his State in Cameroon are repatriated home in safety and given a new lease of life. His reintegration plans for the PoCs will assuage the losses and fears of the refugees upon their return to Borno State.”

Following a series of meetings held in 2017 initiated by the then Commissioner and now Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, 134 Nigerians were successfully returned from Cameroon.

After the meeting, the stakeholders recommended that the return of the refugees will also be in line with the NCFRMI’s ongoing resettlement city project which will shelter thousands of displaced persons in two-bedroom housing units across some States, consisting of primary health care and education centres, security outposts, worship houses, skill acquisition centres, markets and farmlands for use by the returnees.

According to them, the Commission’s Project Reliance programme was aimed at providing a stable means of livelihood for the returnee refugees, empowering them through start-up capitals and empowerment tools in more than 50 different vocations and businesses of their choices.

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