In a historic humanitarian effort, Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has led a high-profile delegation to Baga Sola, Chad, to oversee the voluntary repatriation of 7,790 Nigerian refugees displaced by Boko Haram insurgency. This marks a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate communities affected by terrorism and insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
The refugees, mostly indigenes of Borno State, had been forced to seek shelter in Chad for nearly a decade following the devastation caused by Boko Haram in their hometowns. Governor Zulum’s mission was accompanied by top Nigerian officials, including the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, and the Federal Commissioner/CEO of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). Upon arrival in Chad, the delegation was warmly received by Governor of Lac Province, Saleh Haggar Tidjani.
A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Chad, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to facilitate the safe return of displaced persons. The agreement was signed by Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu on behalf of Nigeria, Governor Saleh Haggar Tidjani for Chad, and Jerome Merlin, UNHCR’s Second Representative in Baga Sola, representing the refugee agency.
In the first phase of the repatriation, 1,768 families will be resettled in Nigeria, with further phases expected to follow. Governor Zulum reassured that only those willing to return voluntarily would be repatriated. He expressed profound gratitude to the Chadian government for its hospitality and unwavering support in accommodating thousands of displaced Nigerians over the years.
A High-Powered Delegation
The Nigerian delegation also included:
Abdulkadir Ibrahim Ghani, Head of Chancery at the Nigerian Embassy in N’Djamena
Hon. Karta Maina Ma’aji, Borno State House of Assembly member representing Kukawa
Prof. Usman Tar, Borno State Commissioner for Information
Sugun Mai Mele, Borno State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs
Mustapha Ali Busuguma, Permanent Secretary of the Government House
Commendations for Zulum’s Leadership
Speaking at the event, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu lauded Governor Zulum’s visionary leadership, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to the welfare of displaced persons and his close collaboration with the federal government in ensuring a sustainable reintegration process.
“I want to commend the Executive Governor of Borno State for demonstrating exceptional leadership in times of crisis. His dedication to the well-being of displaced citizens and his commitment to working with the federal government have set a remarkable example for all,” Dr. Sununu stated.
As the refugees prepare to return home, the Nigerian government is expected to provide adequate resettlement support, including housing, security, and economic reintegration programs. This repatriation exercise signals a new chapter of hope for thousands who have long yearned to return to their homeland.
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