Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has assured Nigerians in the Republic of Chad of his administration’s readiness to facilitate their return home.
He gave the assurance when he visited them in Kaya camp in Chad’s Lac Province to celebrate World Humanitarian Day, which held on Wednesday.
Buni, according to a statement posted yesterday on the Facebook page of his Director of Press, Mamman
Buni, assessed the welfare of the Nigerians displaced by insurgency in the Lake Chad region.
The governor, who travelled to Chad for a meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum which he chairs, said: ‘For those of you willing to return home, you should liaise with the Lake Chad Basin Commission to take the census, while the state governments will facilitate your repatriation to your respective states.’
The governor commended the government and people of Chad for providing for the refugees and enabling peaceful coexistence between them and the host communities.
He urged the refugees to respect the laws of Chad and promptly report any suspicious persons, movements or attempts at infiltration of their camp to the appropriate authorities.
The governor also expressed satisfaction with the refugees’ involvement in farming and fishing, describing the acts as an important step towards self-reliance.
‘Your engagement in fishing and farming makes you more resourceful and less dependent. The Nigerian government will continue to partner with the Chadian government on your welfare,’ he said.
The visit, which underscored Nigeria’s renewed attention to the plight of Nigerian refugees across the border, was described by the refugee community as historic.
The refugees’ leader, Ba- Bulama Usman, said Buni was the first Nigerian government official to visit them at the camp.
Usman thanked the governor for visiting them, describing the gesture as a source of hope and renewed confidence.
‘You are the first Nigerian government official to visit us. This visit has given us a sense of belonging and hope,’ he said.
He expressed appreciation for the assistance provided to the refugees, assuring that members of the community would continue to support efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability.
During his courtesy call on the Governor of Lac Province, Gen. Saleh Tidjani, Buni lauded the Chadian Government for accommodating the displaced Nigerians and for sustaining peaceful relations between them and their host communities.
He said Nigeria and Chad remained committed to strengthening cross-border security, peace and economic cooperation in the Lake Chad Basin.
The governor recalled commitments made at the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri, saying the body would continue to pursue initiatives aimed at deepening sustainable peace, security and economic development across the region.
He highlighted plans to open up waterways across the Lake Chad Basin to facilitate transportation, support security operations and improve the movement of goods and services.
‘We are committed to opening the waterways to enhance transportation for security operations and the transportation of goods and services. We will pursue this with vigour to improve the lives of our people,’ he said.
General Tidjani described Buni’s visit as an important demonstration of cross-border collaboration. He said the visit would strengthen peaceful coexistence, security, stability and economic growth of countries in the Lake Chad Basin.