The inauguration was held on Thursday in Abuja with a view to ensuring international best practices in the repatriation of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon. The Nigerian, Cameroonian Governments and United Nation High Commission for Refugees have inaugurated a Tripartite Commission for the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon.
The inauguration was held on Thursday in Abuja with a view to ensuring international best practices in the repatriation of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the three parties signed the Tripartite Agreement for the repatriation of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon on March 2 in Yaounde, Cameroon.
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| FG, UNHCR Inaugurates Tripartite Commission For Repatriation Of Nigerian Refugees From Cameroon |
The Tripartite Commission is to oversee measures to ensure that any repatriation takes place in safety and dignity and done in conditions that ensure durability of returns and reintegration.
The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau in his remarks, said that the inaugural meeting of the Tripartite Commission was to implement the Tripartite Agreement.
He said that the agreement which was drafted by Nigeria, Cameroon and UNHCR in June 2016 was yet to be implemented 12 months after it was drafted and over four months after it was signed.
The minister said that the purpose of the Commission was to develop a road map for advocacy, on voluntary and dignified return of the refugees, in compliance with international standards.
Dambazau said: “I am very delighted and honoured to be here today to inaugurate the meeting of Tripartite Commission for the implementation of the Tripartite Agreement for the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon.
“It could be recalled that it was in June 2016 at this venue the agreement was drafted by Nigeria, Cameroon and the UNHCR along with other stakeholders.
“However, we have not been able to implement the agreement, more than 12 months after it was drafted and over four months after it was signed on March 2 in Yaounde.”
Dambazau, however, said that the war against the insurgents had been won through joint efforts of the regional armies as well as support of international communities.
He noted that the Commission at the end of the meeting, charged the Technical Working Group to produce the operational modalities and roadmap for the smooth implementation of the Tripartite Agreement.
Earlier, Antonio Canhandula, UNHCR Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS appreciated the Federal Government for hosting the inaugural meeting of the Tripartite Commission.
He said that in 2015, more than 300,000 Nigerians who were displaced in Northeast as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency had returned from Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
He said that in May, there were 88,570 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, while about 10,448 returned from Cameroon, of which seven per cent of them claimed they were returned forcefully.
Canhandula reaffirmed UNHCR commitment to collaborating with both Nigerian and Cameroonian Governments to ensure the smooth implementation of the Tripartite Agreement enhance protection and assistance to the returnees.
He further urged all parties to ensure that the returns are initiated in a phased approach and conducive conditions.
He said: “Permit me to conclude by reaffirming UNHCR’s commitment to collaborating with both governments of Nigeria and Cameroon to ensure the smooth implementation of the Tripartite Agreement.
“Enhance protection and assistance to the returnees, even as we strive to find lasting solutions to the humanitarian situation in the Northeast of Nigeria.”
Rene Sadi, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation in Cameroon, appealed to the international community to support the operation.
He further appealed to them to help ensure the development of the areas and territories freed by defence and security forces. FG, UNHCR Inaugurates Tripartite Commission For Repatriation Of Nigerian Refugees From Cameroon
