Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring the dignity and livelihoods of Nigerians displaced by insurgency, including thousands still living as refugees in Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Zulum delivered the assurance during a visit to the Minawao Refugee Camp in Cameroon’s Far North region, where more than 12,000 Nigerians from Kirawa, Ngoshe, Ashigashiya and nearby communities in Gwoza Local Government Area have lived for over a decade.
The governor’s visit brought renewed hope to the refugees, many of whom described it as their first genuine indication that a return home was finally within reach.
Zulum told the refugees that improved security and expanded military operations had made their home communities safer, adding that the state government was ready to support their reintegration.
“The welfare of refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees remains a priority for us,” he said. “Rebuilding the lives of insurgency survivors is central to our humanitarian and development agenda.”
He announced a cash support package for returnees, including N500,000 for each refugee willing to return home, and N100,000 for women-headed households, along with assistance for rebuilding shelters and drilling boreholes to improve access to water.
Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Mijinyawa Bakari, praised Zulum’s consistent humanitarian support for Nigerians in Cameroon, describing his commitment as exemplary and beneficial to regional stability.
“Governor Zulum has continually shown genuine concern for his people beyond Nigeria’s borders,” Bakari said, commending his long-standing interventions in the Minawao camp.
Zulum also visited farmlands allocated to the refugees by the Cameroonian authorities. He applauded their resilience and pledged further support, including irrigation kits and water supply systems, to enhance agricultural productivity.
“Empowering refugees to sustain their livelihoods is key to restoring dignity and ensuring a smooth transition back into their communities,” he said.
The governor was accompanied by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Gwoza lawmaker Abdullahi Buba Abatcha, commissioners, the Chairman of Gwoza Local Government and other officials.
