Abuja to repatriate 500K displaced Nigerians from Niger, Chad, Cameroon
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Some 500,000 displaced Nigerians are awaiting repatriation from Niger Republic, Chad, and Cameroon, says National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Federal Commissioner, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim.
“We have almost about 500,000 awaiting repatriation. The next batch will consist of 1,000 people and it is spontaneous returns that are happening now, and we are looking after them as they come back,’’ she said, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The Presidential Committee on Repatriation in the North East will complement the Technical Working Group on repatriation chaired by the Commission, Suleiman-Ibrahim added.
“It is a process that has been ongoing, and we have started repatriation, we are experiencing involuntary returns from Nigerians in those countries.
“So, it’s going to happen before the end of Mr President’s tenure [in May 2023]. We would have brought everybody back home and there is funding allocated for us.”
Suleiman-Ibrahim made the disclosure at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
She spoke on the sidelines of a High-Level Side Event on “Strengthening Resilience and Sustaining Development: A Humanitarian Development Peace Approach to Leaving No-one Behind’’.
90K terrorists repent
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum disclosed at the event that over 90,000 repentant terrorists have voluntarily surrendered to the Nigerian army for disarmament, de-radicalisation and reintegration.
“I want to bring to the notice of this gathering that within the last year, the Borno State government, and indeed the Federal Government have so far received over 90,000 repentant Boko Haram and ISWAP members.
“This has never happened anywhere in the history of the world, the insurgency is coming to an end,’’ he said.
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Acute humanitarian crisis
Zulum reiterated the acute humanitarian crisis devastates social and economic life, and deepens fragility and poverty in the North East, according to NAN, reported by The Guardian.
“Before assumption of duty of Mr President, 22 local government areas in Borno state out of the 27 local government areas that we have, were under the control of Boko Haram insurgents.
“But today, none of our local government areas are under the control of Boko Haram insurgents.’’
He said the Borno government with the support of Abuja and the UN has strengthened the resilience of communities.
“The nexus between peace, security and development need not be over-emphasised. If there is no peace, there will be no security and if there is no security, there is no development.
“I’m glad to inform you that the President has also inaugurated the committee for the repatriation of all Nigerians that are living in the Republic of Chad, Cameroon, as well as Niger.
“And to this effect funding has been approved. And before the expiration of the tenure, we shall ensure complete repatriation of all the Nigerians that are living in other countries.”
Shifting focus to longer-term solutions
Zulum urged Nigeria, the UN, and other development partners to shift their focus on providing immediate humanitarian support to medium and longer-term sustainable and durable solutions that would fully address problems.
“This is very important, as it has been said by the UN Under-Secretary, the root causes of the insurgency are leading to endemic poverty, advancing illiteracy, social inequality, drug abuse, mitigate climate action, among others.
“Therefore, we shall do everything possible to address these challenges.
“The UN partners that are coming to the North East must partner with sub-national governments. This is something that must be done in order to address the root causes.”
Zulum commended Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths for visiting Borno.
“Griffiths was in Borno and all of them have seen how far the Federal Government and the Borno Government are working in addressing the challenges of climate vulnerability, addressing the challenges of poverty and also addressing the challenges of hunger.”
