The Nigerian Government in collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and other stakeholders is reviewing the process of repatriating Nigerian refugees from the Republics Niger, Cameroun and Chad.
The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Tijjani Ahmed said the reviewed process will ensure that Nigerians living in these countries are returned home voluntarily and in dignity.
According to him, no fewer than 400,000 NIgerians are stranded across Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
“3000 were being returned last week, Sunday, through the efforts of the Governor of Borno State, professor Babagana Zulum and the Technical Working Group wants to take off from there, because it has already been signed between Nigeria and and Chad. We have reviewed the processes here, and also trying to look what and what is required of us to do before the continuation of the this repatriation”,he said.
He noted that the UNHCR has a key role to play because it’s the third party in the repatriation exercise as signed in the agreement.
“And that’s why we have other members of this Technical Working Group to look at what we have done earlier, what we intend to do again, and then what are the areas that probably we have to see the government for support and not only the government,but other key stakeholders, particularly our international partners,” Ahmed explained.
The Federal Commissioner noted with optimism that in the next few weeks, the repatriation will come to stay and they will continue the exercise.
The Deputy Representative, UNHCR, Nigeria, Bernadette Muteshi, says the UNHCR is leaning on the Governments responsible for leadership and ownership of the process.
“We are here to work along with both governments to ensure that the contents of the tripartite agreement are followed and adhered to. But honestly, it’s really about both governments taking leadership and ownership for their nationals in this particular exercise”.
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