TheCable

The federal government says it plans to begin the process of evacuating Nigerians taking refuge in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic.

In the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency, thousands of Nigerians sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

Ahmed Tijjani, federal commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), disclosed the evacuation plans on Thursday in Maiduguri after a meeting with Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno.

Tijjani said the government will also close the remaining Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri and return displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

“We discussed the evacuation of refugees from Cameroon, Niger and Chad. It was agreed that a tripartite meeting will hold,” Tijjani said.

“The commission will sit and come out with the process and procedure to apply in evacuating our people.

“Registration of refugees for the voluntary evacuation is ongoing in collaboration with UN Agency for Refugees (UNHCR).”

He applauded the Borno state government for its commitment to the welfare of the people concerned and assured that the commission will continue to support at all times.

He added that the commission had already established a resettlement city in Amarwa village in Konduga LGA of Borno for the returnees, with provisions for schools, clinics, markets, police outpost and skill acquisition centre, among others.