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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Former Senate leader and lawmaker representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has commended the Federal Government and the Borno State Government for the successful relocation and resettlement of Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) insurgency who had taken refuge in Cameroon.
His commendation follows the recent return of displaced persons from Cameroon to Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State under an existing repatriation framework involving the Federal Government, the Borno State Government, the Government of Cameroon and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
Investigations revealed that the tripartite agreement to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon, many of whom are indigenes of Borno State, dates back to 2017. The agreement was signed in Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital, with the then minister of interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (retd), leading a high-level Nigerian delegation that included the then governor of Borno State and current Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.
The agreement provides for the safe, dignified and voluntary return of Nigerian refugees who fled insurgency attacks to the Minawao refugee camp and other locations in Cameroon, back to Nigeria.
Further findings showed that Governor Babagana Zulum has been actively partnering with the Federal Government and the UNHCR to accelerate the repatriation process, particularly for tens of thousands of Borno indigenes stranded in Cameroon for over a decade.
Ndume praised the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the Borno State Government for sustaining the programme and ensuring the return of displaced citizens to their ancestral homes.
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“I want to commend the Federal Government because the tripartite agreement between it, the Borno State Government, the Government of Cameroon and the UNHCR has ensured the repatriation, resettlement and relocation of Nigerian refugees in Minawao in Cameroon, back to Gwoza Local Government,” the senator said.
“I commend the FG for the initiative of resettling the people and the active participation of the Borno State Government for the resettlement after over ten years in Cameroon.
“I also want to commend the resettling of the people of Wala Village in Gwoza Local Government.”
The former Senate Chief Whip also thanked Governor Zulum for fulfilling his pledge to restore electricity to Gwoza Local Government Area, which he said had been without power for more than a decade following the destruction of electricity infrastructure by Boko Haram insurgents.
“The efforts of Governor Zulum in restoring electricity in Gwoza is commendable. We have been without light for over 10 years,” Ndume stated.
“The Borno State Governor made a promise last year during the installation of the Emir of Bama and he has kept the promise,” he said.
