The Federal Government has assured Nigerian refugees in Diffa in the Republic of Niger that arrangements are ongoing to return them to Nigeria.
Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, disclosed this when a Federal Government delegation visited Nigerian Refugees in Diffa for an on-the-spot assessment and to assure them of efforts being made to repatriate them.
A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said Zulum was accompanied by the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, Senator Basheer Mohammed.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who was represented by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ali Grema, also accompanied the Borno governor.
The statement, which was issued by the humanitarian minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Nneka Anibeze, stated that during the visit, “Zulum assured the internally displaced persons in the Republic of Niger of government’s commitment in ensuring their safe return to Nigeria”.
The team also met with officials from the Nigerien government led by Governor Isa Lameen of Diffa region.
They toured an ongoing construction of 1,000 temporary shelter units and 280 refugee housing units in Damasak town located on the fringes of the Nigerien border.
– Punch