Nigeria, UN, Cameroon Sign Agreement on Return of 80,000 IDPs 

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

In a tripartite agreement recently signed by the Federal Government, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and Cameroon, about 80,000 Nigerian refugees who had fled for safety because of the counter-effects of terrorism can now return back to the country.

Under this new tripartite agreement, these refugees, who are currently taking refuge in Cameroon, can voluntarily return in a dignified manner.

A statement by NEMA Senior Information Officer, Sani Datti, which was made available to THISDAY on Sunday, revealed that the FG has been making considerable efforts to cater for the basic needs of all 80,000 displaced Nigerians.

The statement read, “The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Muhammad Sani Sidi, disclosed this when an African Union Humanitarian Mission led by Dr. Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, Commissioner Political Affairs, visited the Headquarters of the agency at the weekend.

“He said the Federal Government and   governments of states affected by the insurgency, United Nations Organisations, International Non-Governmental Organisations and the private sector  had done a lot in the past four years to manage large numbers of internally displaced persons in the North East.

“We have moved from the emergency response stage to recovery and resettlement of the IDPs. He urged the visiting Commissioner to use her good offices as Commissioner Political Affairs of the African Union to seek for more assistance and support for the affected persons and the states.

“He thanked all the development partners, UN agencies, Civil Societies for working tirelessly in supporting the IDPs and Government of Nigeria.”

Further details later

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