In a significant development for displaced Nigerians, the Federal Government has successfully repatriated 3,000 citizens from Chad, marking a milestone in the ongoing efforts to bring back refugees from neighboring countries.
The announcement was made by the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, during a Technical Working Group Meeting in Abuja. Ahmed confirmed that the returnees are now in Borno State, where they are receiving food and non-food aid provided by the NCFRMI.
The repatriation was made possible through an agreement signed among the Nigerian government, the Chadian government, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), following a similar bilateral arrangement earlier that led to the safe return of Nigerians from Chad.
“This repatriation reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that Nigerians who are displaced abroad are safely brought back to their homeland,” Ahmed stated.
The NCFRMI has been actively involved in the repatriation efforts, focusing on Nigerians living in Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. While agreements have been signed with Cameroon and Chad, no repatriation agreement has yet been finalized with Niger.
“We have 14,000 Nigerians in Cameroon who are willing to return. Of these, 7,000 wish to return unconditionally, while the other half requests security and shelter,” Ahmed added, highlighting the ongoing efforts to facilitate the return of more citizens.
The repatriation process comes at a time when challenges, including food shortages in refugee camps, have escalated in Chad, prompting many displaced Nigerians to seek a return to their homeland. In addition to the challenges faced by refugees, many have expressed their desire to rebuild their lives despite the lingering security concerns back in northeastern Nigeria.
Abdullahi Sani Dansalama, one of the returnees, shared his emotional relief. “I’m happy I’m returning to my home 11 years after I was forced to leave,” said Dansalama, who had fled from the fishing town of Doron Baga on the shores of Lake Chad. While acknowledging the ongoing security risks, he remains hopeful: “There is no place like home.”
The security situation in northeastern Nigeria has been unstable due to jihadist violence, which has displaced over two million people since 2009. However, military efforts have reduced jihadist attacks, and Borno State authorities have been working to resettle returnees, even as sporadic raids continue.
The successful repatriation of the 3,000 Nigerians is a positive step in the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the plight of its displaced citizens, as it continues to work with international partners and organizations to ensure their safe and dignified return.
