By Atoyebi Nike
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring the dignity and rebuilding the lives of victims of insurgency, including Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
During a visit to the Minawao Refugee Camp in Cameroon’s Far North region, home to over 12,000 Nigerians displaced from Gwoza Local Government Area, Zulum assured refugees that comprehensive security measures have been established in their communities to support voluntary return.
“The welfare of refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees remains a priority for us,” the governor said, noting that rehabilitating insurgency survivors is central to his government’s humanitarian and development agenda.
Zulum announced a financial package for returning refugees, providing ₦500,000 per household, with an additional ₦100,000 for women-headed households. He also pledged to drill boreholes to meet water needs in the communities.
Cameroon’s Far North Governor praised Zulum’s leadership, highlighting his consistent concern for displaced Nigerians and the strengthened bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon.
During the visit, Zulum inspected farmlands allocated to refugees, emphasizing support for agricultural activities through irrigation and water infrastructure to ensure livelihoods are sustained and reintegration is smooth.
The governor’s visit brought renewed hope to the camp residents, many of whom described it as the first concrete assurance of returning home after over a decade in exile.
