The federal government says it plans to begin the process of evacuating Nigerians taking refuge in the neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic back home.

Thousands of Nigerians affected by the Boko Haram attacks had fled to the neighbouring countries at the peak of the insurgency.

Ahmed Tijjani, the federal commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), said this on Thursday in Maiduguri after a meeting with Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno.

“We discussed the evacuation of refugees from Cameroon, Niger and Chad. It was agreed that a tripartite meeting will be held,” Mr Tijjani said.

He added, “The commission will sit and come out with the process and procedure to apply in evacuating our people.”

Mr Tijjani said the government had also agreed to close the remaining Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri and return the displaced persons to their ancestral homes within the shortest possible time.

“Registration of refugees for the voluntary evacuation is ongoing in collaboration with the UN Agency for Refugees (UNHCR),” Mr Tijjani said.

He lauded the Borno government for its commitment to the welfare of the people concerned and assured of the commission’s support at all times.

Mr Tijjani said the commission had already established a resettlement city in Amarwa village in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno for the returnees with provisions for schools, clinics, markets, a police outpost and a skill acquisition centre, among others.

The federal commissioner, who was in Borno for a three-day visit, also presented relief materials to 500 displaced persons affected by the fire disaster in the Muna IDP camp in Maiduguri and visited the Maiduguri sub-office of the UNHCR.

(NAN)