Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno South, has applauded the federal government and the Borno State Government for their efforts in facilitating the return and resettlement of Nigerians displaced by insurgency in the North-East.
In a statement issued in Abuja over the weekend, Ndume said the coordinated initiative has enabled many indigenes of Borno State who fled Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacks to safely return home after spending several years as refugees in Cameroon.
The senator explained that the repatriation exercise was carried out under a tripartite framework involving the federal government, the Borno State Government and the Cameroonian authorities, with technical and humanitarian support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
According to him, the agreement — signed in Yaoundé in 2017 — was designed to ensure the voluntary, secure and dignified return of Nigerian refugees who had taken shelter in the Minawao camp and other locations across Cameroon following insurgent violence.
Ndume noted that Governor Babagana Zulum has worked closely with the federal government and UNHCR to fast-track the return of thousands of displaced Borno residents, particularly those from Gwoza Local Government Area.
“I commend the federal government for the tripartite agreement with the Borno State Government, the Government of Cameroon and the UNHCR, which has made it possible for Nigerian refugees in Minawao to be repatriated, resettled and relocated back to Gwoza,” the statement read.
He also praised the efforts of the Borno State Government in reintegrating returnees after more than a decade of displacement, describing the development as a significant milestone in post-conflict recovery.
The lawmaker further applauded the resettlement of residents of Wala village in Gwoza LGA, noting that the move has restored hope to communities devastated by years of insecurity.
Ndume also commended Governor Zulum for restoring electricity supply to Gwoza after over ten years of blackout, describing the intervention as a critical step towards rebuilding the local economy and improving living conditions.
“The restoration of electricity in Gwoza is highly commendable. We have lived without power for more than a decade,” he said.
He added that the governor had fulfilled a commitment made during the installation ceremony of the Emir of Bama, stressing that the promise reflected Zulum’s commitment to rebuilding conflict-affected communities.
The senator recalled that in December 2025, he had urged the federal government to provide additional support to Borno State in the areas of resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation of victims displaced by prolonged insurgency in the region.
