Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has arrived Cameroon for the repatriation of thousands of Nigerian refugees, his media aide Isa Gusau said on Wednesday.
About 9,800 refugees will partake in the first phase of the repatriation from Cameroon out of 46,000 Nigerians taking refuge in Minawao camp in Central Africa country.
Also with Zulum are officials of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
Mr Gusau said Zulum arrived Cameroon on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday led the Nigerian delegation to a meeting on the tripartite (repatriation) agreement signed between Nigeria, Cameroon and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, which is to hold in Marwa, with governor of Cameroon’s far north Mijinyawa Bakare hosting the meeting.
He said before travelling to Cameroon, Zulum has had series of meetings with Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs Geoffrey Onyeama; minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development Sadiya Farouq among others.
“Today’s (Wednesday) meeting is in line with provisions of the tripartite agreement which has spelt out international best practices on humanitarian issues involving movements of persons between two or more countries as well as roles and limitations of all parties, and the protection of the rights of refugees who can only be repatriated at their own will,” the aide said in a statement.
In September 2019 during his trip to the camp, Zulum had promised the refugees that he would in response to their appeal work with stakeholders towards their successful repatriation and dignified resettlement.
