The Federal Government has announced plans to repatriate 20,000 Nigerian refugees from the Republic of Chad and Cameroon, within the next two months.
Federal Commissioner, National Fee for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Aliyu Tijani, stated this after a meeting with the Tripatite Working Group (TWG) and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR), yesterday in Abuja.
“We’re looking at 3,000 households from Chad that’s about 6,000 folks to be repatriated from Chad.
“Within the case of Cameroon the number we’ve is about 14,000 people. However, we is not going to drive anybody to return to this country.
“Preparations are ongoing to profile these prepared to return. The timeframe is inside the next two months,” he mentioned.
Tijani, nevertheless, didn’t disclose the fee implications, however noted that the government would do everything possible to make sure the safe return of Nigerians.
He mentioned: “We’re but to find out the fee implications for the repatriation of our people in Cameroon and Chad. Now we have sent a memo to that effect. By the point we get the whole invoice, I feel the federal government of the federation will intervene.
“I need to let you know that the government of Nigeria will do every little thing possible to make sure that money is provided for this.
“They’ve carried out that earlier than I’m certain they may proceed to try this. Don’t forget that in 2022 about 5,000 Nigerians have been repatriated from Cameroon.”
He defined that almost all of returnees left the country due to 2022 flood that ravaged the nation and the disaster between herders and farmers.
“Don’t forget that in 2022, we had a really serious flood and many of our folks left this country. Some fled to Chad.
“Some left to Cameroon, together with the disaster between herders and farmers, are contributing factors. The number just isn’t too much to think that they can’t depart this nation,” he mentioned.
On this problem of rehabilitation, the place the returnees can be camped and the assist system by the government, he mentioned” Repatriation is ongoing in Banki and in Baga in Borno State, and the construction of houses.
“We’re making preparations, liaising with the government of Borno State, to make sure that most of people who will probably be returning will probably be taken to skill acquisition centres.
“Borno State has a really magnificent abilities acquisition centres ready for the returnees.
“As they return we are going to give them some coaching, then we are going to give them start-up packs. Government is not going to proceed to be fending for them for all times. We must present a durable answer and the durable answer is the shelter, start-up packs for them.”
UNHCR Deputy Representative (Protection), Bernadette Mutakale Muteshi, on her part, mentioned the international organisation, would provide counseling for them.
Muteshi mentioned: “We’ll provide them with documentations to state their profile and any special arrangements that should be made.
“After that, we are going to present them with information both general and private as will as counseling. And along with the 2 governments, we are going to focus on about the legal framework and the arrangements they’re coming again to meet. We can even work with each governments to arrange the logistics.”
Source:- Sunnewsonline
