Former Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum for their roles in the successful repatriation and resettlement of Nigerian refugees who had been displaced by Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks and were living in Cameroon.
The initiative, which is part of a tripartite agreement signed in 2017 between the Nigerian government, the Borno State government, and the Cameroonian government, alongside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), facilitates the voluntary return of Nigerian refugees to their home country. This agreement ensures the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of refugees who had been residing in Cameroon’s Minawao camp and other locations.
Ndume, representing Borno South in the Senate, expressed his appreciation for the successful implementation of the programme, which has enabled many displaced persons to return to Borno State, particularly to Gwoza Local Government Area.
He lauded the active participation of both the Federal Government and the Borno State government in facilitating the repatriation process, which has been ongoing for years. “I want to 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,” Ndume said.
In addition to the repatriation efforts, Ndume also acknowledged Governor Zulum for fulfilling his promise to restore electricity to Gwoza, a town that had been without power for over a decade due to the destruction of infrastructure by Boko Haram. The restoration of electricity, which has been a long-standing need, was a significant achievement for the local community.
“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,” Ndume said.
This resettlement programme has not only provided relief to thousands of displaced individuals but also marks a crucial step in rebuilding communities devastated by years of insurgency in the northeast.
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