Former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, on Sunday, lauded President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum over recent relocation and resettlement of victims of Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province, (ISWAP) terrorists’ attacks who were hitherto displaced and living in Cameroon.
Investigation revealed that there exists a tripartite agreement between the Borno state government, the Federal government and its Cameroonian counterpart in conjunction with the United Nations Humanitarian High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to facilitate voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon, many of whom are from Borno State dated back to 2017.
It was signed in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroun with the then Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau leading a high-level Nigerian delegation which included then the Governor of Borno State and now Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
The agreement ensured the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of Nigerian refugees who fled from terror attacks to Cameroon’s Minawao camp and other areas back to Nigeria.
It was further learnt that Governor Zulum, had actively partnered with the Federal Government and the UNHCR to speed up the repatriation process, especially for the thousands of Borno citizens in Cameroon.
Ndume who represents Borno South in a statement in Abuja commended President Tinubu’s administration and the Borno State Government for keeping faith with the programme which has enabled many citizens of Borno State to be relocated back to the Northeast state.
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.
“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 10 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 redeeming his promise to restore electricity to Gwoza local government which he noted had been in total blackout for over 10 years as a result of destruction of power facilities by the Boko Haram terror group.
“The efforts 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.”
