FIC Report (Borno State) – The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Commission for migrants, Refugees, and internally Displaced persons (NCFRM) officially handed over food and non food items to the Borno State Government on Monday to support the resettlement of Nigerians returning from Chad.
During the handover ceremony,held on Monday, February 17th, Mrs. Daura, Director of the refugee Department of NCFRM, reaffirmed the federal Government to ensuring the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of displaced Nigerians.She emphasized that the repatriation is part of the Tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Chad and the United Nations High commissioner for Refugees UNHCR, ensuring international best practices in the return process.
“We are here on behalf of the federal Government’s Technical working group to formally handover these relief materials to the Borno State Government, and we will continue to do so until all Nigerians taking refugee in other countries return home’, Mrs Daura stated.
She further announced them the relief effort would be followed by a medical outreach in the coming days to address the healthcare needs of the Returnees.
Relief Items handed over…
The relief materials, which includes both food and non food items, are intended to ease the reintegration process for returness.
Food items…
1. 2400 bags of rice (25 kg each)
2. 3500 cartoons of spaghetti
3. 500 cartoons of vegetable oil
Non food items…
1. 1600 bags of cement
2. 500 mattresses
3. 500 mats
4. 500 blankets
5. 300 plastic buckets with taps
6. 50 rolls of wrappers.
After inspecting the relief materials,Engr. Abba Lawan Wakilbe, Borno State Commissioner for Education and chairman of the sub-committee on Repatriation, officer, took possession of the items on behalf of the state government.
In his remarkes, Engr. Wakilbe expressed profound gratitude to the federal Government and NCFRMI emphasizing that the intervention aligns with Governor Babagana Umara Zulum s commitment to ensuring the safe and dignified return of displaced persons.
Governor Zulum appreciate this timely intervention, which will go a long way in helping the returness settle and rebuild their lives.
The federal government support strengthens our collective efforts to ensure the full reintegration of returness, particularly in communities like Baga and kukawa,” he stated.
Engr Wakilbe also highlighted the significant improvement on security across Borno State, nothing that areas previously considered unsafe are now witnessing economic revival, with businesses responding and nightlife gradually returning.
“Security has improved tremendously compared to 2014. Schools have reopened, businesses are thriving, and movement is now possible even at night.These are clear indicators of the progress made under Governor Zulum s leadership’, he added.
With the formal handover completed, the Borno State Government will commence the distribution of materials, ensuring they are effectively reintegrated into their communities.
Both NCFRMI and the Borno State Government reaffirmed their commitment to providing long- term assistance, emphasizing that this intervention is part of Nigerians broader humanitarian efforts to support conflict affected populations and uphold international standards in refugee resettlement.
Signed
Bunu Alkali Abdulsalam,
PIO, FIC Maiduguri.
