Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The federal government has said that it is not comfortable with the alarming numbers of over 400,000 Nigerian refugees that are stranded in Cameroon, Niger and Chad just as it said that plans are in top gear to have them back to the country.
The federal commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, revealed this at the Technical Working Group meeting in Abuja.
He said that 3,000 refugees were returned last week through the efforts of the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and the technical working group, adding that further repatriation plans are ongoing.
Ahmed said that the tripartite agreement had been reviewed and the necessary steps for continuation of the repatriation process were being considered.
He acknowledged the crucial role the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) played in the repatriation exercise, adding that discussions were ongoing to ensure the process continued smoothly.
He however said that the Technical Working Group was reviewing past actions and planning future steps, including seeking governments and international partners’ support.
He said that the goal was to ensure that the repatriation exercise became a permanent process in the coming weeks.
The federal commissioner, however, underscored the need for governments’ support and the involvement of key stakeholders, particularly international partners.
“We have not less than 400,000 refugees across these zones – Cameroon, Niger and Chad. 3000 refugees were returned last week Sunday through the efforts of the governor of Borno.
“We have reviewed the processes here, and then we also try to look at what and what is required of us to do before the continuation of this repatriation.
“UNHCR is key in this direction, because they are the third party in the repatriation exercise assigned through our agreements.
“We hope that in the next few weeks, this repatriation will commence and we will continue the exercise,” Amhed said.
On her part, the UNHCR Deputy Representative, Bernadette Muteshi, expressed the UNHCR’s openness to discussing repatriation, deportation, and the welfare of internally displaced persons.
Muteshi maintained that the aim of the Technical Working Group was to support the governments in ensuring the tripartite agreement was followed and adhered to.