Borno, Cameroon to partner on repatriation of Nigerian refugees in Minawawo camp

 

 AHMED MARI, Maiduguri

 

 

The  Borno state government in collaboration with the  Government of the Far North region in the Republic of  Cameroon are to jointly embark on repatriation of thousands of  Nigerian Refugees taking refuge in Minawawo camp in Cameroon.

 

The Executive Secretary of the Forum of Governors of  the Member States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, (LCBC,),Mr Midjiyawa Bakari disclosed  this on Tuesday when he led a 19-member delegation including representatives of International Non- Governmental Organisations, INGOs on a courtesy call on Governor Babagana Zulum  at the Government House, Maiduguri.

 

“Let me also use this opportunity to magnify the quality of relations which

characterise the good neighbourliness between the Far North Region of Cameroon and the Federated State of Borno, sharing a common border, signifying the similitude of security challenges, economic growth and sustainable development, which led to the peaceful repatriation of about 5,000 refugees from Cameroon back to Banki community of Borno state last year”, he explained.

 

He said “it is a singular honour and a privilege for me to take the floor this day in Maiduguri, capital of the Borno State, in my capacity as the sitting Executive Secretary of the Forum of Governors of Member States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, on the occasion of my working visit to member States of the said Commission.”

 

He said they were in Borno as part of bilateral cooperation to ensure restoration of peace and civil authority in some parts of the communities ravaged by insurgents in the region, which has left thousands of innocent civilians homeless, without means of livelihood in the past seven years.

 

“Let me first of all use this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Governor of Borno State, His Excellency,  Prof. Babagana Zulum and to the Nigerian people of Borno State for their warm and hilarious welcome that was given to me and my delegation since our arrival on Monday”, Mr Bakari added.

 

 

He said “I would also want to express my very profound gratitude and my recognition to His Excellencies Muhammadu Buhari and Paul Biya, Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon, respectively, for their magnanimity and very high sense of clairvoyance in authorising this working visit.. Their personal engagement in the fight against transborder insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin, attachment to the ideals of peace and durable development have remained major sacred challenges.”

 

He said the  main objective of their working visit was a follow-up to the resolutions of the last Session of the Forum of Governors of Member States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, which took place from the 4th to the 5th of October 2021, in Yaounde

(Cameroon), stressing that during the forum’s meeting, he solemnly took the engagement to follow up in each member State, Region and Province of the Basin of Lake Chad, the putting in place of priority actions of our Territorial Actions Plans (TAPs), that were presented to our development partners,

validated and sanctioned in the final communiqué.

 

Responding, Governor Zulum commended Bakari for the visit, and pledged that his administration will continue to give maximum support and cooperation to find a lasting and durable solution to the over decade crisis.

 

He said, since the displacement of people living in the shores of the lake Chad, Borno people taking refuge in Cameroon, Niger and Chad Republic are treated in good manner, and is very encouraging.

 

He said “on behalf of the Government and people of Borno state, I commend His Excellency Mr. Bakari for the visit, and I assure you of my administration’s resolve to continue giving  maximum support and cooperation in order to find a lasting and durable solution to the over decade crisis. Since the displacement of thousands of innocent people living in the shores of the Lake Chad, Borno people taking refuge in Cameroun, Niger and Chad Republic are treated in good manner, and is very encouraging.

 

“Last year, when we repatriated our refugees back to Banki community in Bama local government area, Camerounion Government through your good office as Governor and Far-North Region has assisted us with over 100 vehicles, with food and non-food items which helped in the stabilization and restoration of their means of livelihood.

 

“The crisis in the region is enormous that requires enough resources to mitigate, and with the improved peace, we call on all and sundry to come to our aid in this trying moment”, he added.

 

He said “I am hopeful this Technical Review Meeting would usher a new course for strengthening our Internal reintegration, enhance border security and reopen markets for sustainable development”.

 

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