*** Osinbajo Chairs meeting in Abuja
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Federal Government has
released the sum of N15 billion to the Committee for Repatriation, Return Resettlement of Internally Displaced People (IDP) just as the Committee held a meeting on Friday in Abuja to discuss the modalities for implementation of its mandate.
This disclosure was made on Friday by a member of the Committee and Governor of Borno state, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum who spoke to State House Correspondents after the meeting chaired by the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Zulum who also disclosed that more than 300, 000 IDPs have been repatriated and the meeting was to draw up a roadmap on how to resettle them, saying that: “these are some of the issues that were discussed according to international best practices”.
According to Borno Governor: “Few months ago, the President of the Federal Republic Nigeria established a committee for the repatriation, return and resettlement of IDPs that are living in the Republic of Chad, Cameroon and Niger to Nigeria.
“Based on the recommendation of the Chairman of this committee, which is the Vice President, the sum of N15billion naira has been released to the committee. We are here to discuss the modalities for implementation; who does what. So far, so good. A lot has been discussed. Many items will be procured so that the repatriation exercise will take immediate effect.
Asked how many Nigerians have been repatriated, Zulum said: “More than 300, 000 have been repatriated. But under this phase, we are yet to begin the process. This is the 4th Phase of the repatriation exercise we shall embark upon very soon. Guidelines were provided for respective agencies that are to handle this matter.
“What should be given to the individuals in terms of food and non-food items; what type of house shall we build; what is the transportation medium? What is the minimum threshold required to return people from the neighbouring countries to Nigeria?
“These are some of the issues that were discussed according to international best practices”.
