Ndume Commends Tinubu, Zulum Over Resettlement of Nigerian Refugees from Cameroon

Former Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum for facilitating the return and resettlement of Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) attacks who had been living in Cameroon.

The relocation followed a long-standing tripartite agreement involving the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Borno State Government, the Government of Cameroon, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The pact, signed in Yaounde in 2017, provides a framework for the voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation of Nigerian refugees, many of whom fled insurgency in Borno State.

The agreement was negotiated by a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the then Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (retd.), and included the then Borno State Governor, now Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

It focused particularly on refugees who had taken shelter at the Minawao camp and other locations in Cameroon.

In recent months, the repatriation process has been accelerated through collaboration between the Federal Government, the Borno State Government and the UNHCR, leading to the return of thousands of displaced Borno indigenes.

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Speaking in a statement issued in Abuja, Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said the programme demonstrated the government’s commitment to restoring communities affected by insurgency.

He said: “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 Area of Borno State.

“I commend the Federal Government for the initiative of resettling the people and the active participation of the Borno State government for the resettlement after over 10 years in Cameroon.

“I also want to commend the resettling of the people of Wala village in Gwoza Local Government.”

Ndume also applauded Governor Zulum for restoring electricity to Gwoza Local Government Area, which had been without power for more than a decade following the destruction of infrastructure during insurgent attacks.

“The effort of Governor Zulum in restoring electricity in Gwoza is commendable. We have been without light for over 10 years.

“The Borno State governor made a promise last year during the installation of the Emir of Bama, and he has kept the promise.”