Return home, get N500,000, Zulum woos Borno refugees in Cameroon

Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum.

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Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has assured residents displaced by the Boko Haram crisis who have fled to Cameroon that the government is ready to provide each of them with N500,000 if they are willing to return home.

The governor gave the assurance while addressing refugees at the Minawao camp in Cameroon’s Far North region on Monday.

Zulum assured the refugees that adequate security arrangements had been put in place in their home communities, following years of expanded military operations and civilian security initiatives across Gwoza and other parts of the state.

“The welfare of refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees remains a priority for us,” Zulum said, noting that rebuilding the lives of insurgency survivors is a core pillar of his administration’s humanitarian and development agenda.

“Borno State, in partnership with the federal government, will provide a cash assistance of N500,000 to each refugee who is willing to return home, while women households will be given N100,000 each,” Zulum announced.

The governor stated that the measure is designed to help returnees begin reconstructing their homes.

Responding, the governor of the Far North Region, Cameroon, Mijinyawa Bakari, praised Zulum’s commitment, describing his continued support for displaced Nigerians in Cameroon as exemplary and deeply humanitarian.

“Borno State Governor has consistently demonstrated genuine concern and responsibility for his people, even beyond Nigeria’s borders,” Bakari stated.

He acknowledged the sustained humanitarian assistance, particularly the governor’s long-standing interventions in the Minawao Refugee Camp.

“Zulum’s physical presence and hands-on support have not only provided relief to the refugees but have also strengthened cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon in addressing displacement and regional stability,” he added.

During his visit, Zulum also toured farmlands allocated to the refugees by the Cameroonian government, which have become their primary source of livelihood.

While assessing the fields, he commended the refugees’ resilience and the host authorities’ generosity. He assured farmers that his administration would support their agricultural activities by providing irrigation kits and water sources to boost productivity.

“Empowering refugees to maintain their livelihoods is central to restoring dignity and ensuring a smooth transition back into their communities,” Zulum stressed.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring the dignity of victims of insurgency, including Nigerian refugees in the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.

The governor was accompanied by the senator representing Borno South, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume; the member of the House of Assembly representing Gwoza, Hon. Abdullahi Buba Abatcha; commissioners, the Chairman of Gwoza Local Government, and other officials.

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