The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Commission for Migrants, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), officially handed over food and non-food relief items to the Borno State Government this morning to support the resettlement of Nigerians returning from Chad.
During the handover ceremony, held on Monday, Mrs. Daura, Director of the Refugee Department at NCFRMI, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of displaced Nigerians. She emphasised 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 hand over these relief materials to the Borno State Government, and we will continue to do so until all Nigerians taking refuge in other countries return home,” Mrs. Daura stated.
She further announced that 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 include both food and non-food items, are intended to ease the reintegration process for returnees.
Food Items:
2,400 bags of rice (25 kg each)
3,500 cartons of spaghetti
500 cartons of vegetable oil
185 bags of millet (25 kg each)
Non-Food Items:
1,600 bags of cement
500 mattresses
500 mats
400 bed sheets
500 blankets
300 cartons of water purifiers
500 mosquito nets
300 plastic buckets with taps
50 rolls of wrappers
After inspecting the relief materials, Engr. Abba Lawan Wakil, Borno State Commissioner for Education and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Refugee Repatriation, officially took possession of the items on behalf of the state government.
In his remarks, Engr. Wakil expressed profound gratitude to the Federal Government and NCFRMI, emphasising that the intervention aligns with Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s commitment to ensuring the safe and dignified return of displaced persons.
“Governor Zulum appreciates this timely intervention, which will go a long way in helping the returnees settle and rebuild their lives. The federal government’s support strengthens our collective efforts to ensure the full reintegration of returnees, particularly in communities like Baga and Kukawa,” he stated.
Engr. Wakil also highlighted the significant improvement in security across Borno State, noting that areas previously considered unsafe are now witnessing economic revival, with businesses reopening 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 to returnees, ensuring they are effectively reintegrated into their communities.
Both NCFRMI and the Borno State Government reaffirmed their commitment to providing long-term assistance, emphasising that this intervention is part of Nigeria’s broader humanitarian efforts to support conflict-affected populations and uphold international standards in refugee resettlement.
