Buhari hails Biya for hosting 56,000 Nigerian IDPs

President Muhammadu Buhari last night commended the people and government of Republic of Cameroon for hosting over 56,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Nigeria since July 2014.

These group of Nigerians were displaced while fleeing the Boko Haram insurgency that ravaged some Northeastern states.

Buhari made the commendation at a dinner and cultural night organized in honour of the visiting President of Cameroon, Paul Biya and his wife, Chantal, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
While expressing appreciation to the United Nations and other international donor agencies for their assistances to the IDPs across the country, the Nigerian leader also condoled with the families of those that lost their loved ones as a result of the murderous activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.

He said: “Our special condolences go to families of our fallen heroes who had sacrificed their lives to safe guard our territorial integrity and provide security of lives and property of our people

“Permit me to use this occasion of your Excellency’s visit to Nigeria to once again extend my personal gratitude and that of the Federal Government for your country’s hosting of over 65,000 Nigerian refugees since July 2014.

“We also appreciate the assistance of the United Nations System, International donors, local and international non-governmental organisations and the ordinary Cameroonian families who share their meager provisions with the refugees in the spirit of African brotherhood. We thank them all”.

President Buhari said that a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement programme for the IDPs are being worked out by the Federal Government in collaboration with some international organizations, noting that data of the IDPs are being compiled for smooth implementation of the scheme.

He also expressed satisfaction with the successes being recorded in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency by the Nigerian military in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram.

Mr. Buhari specifically commended the Cameroonian security forces, who recently participated in a joint military onslaught against the terrorist sect along the border areas of the Lake Chad Basin.

According to him, the battle against the terrorist group would soon be over as efforts had been intensified by various security agencies across member countries of the multinational joint task force.

Nigeria and Cameroon, he said, would continue to maintain the path of dialogue and peace in addressing possible incident of social conflict or misunderstanding among the citizens of both countries.

He also assured that Nigeria would continue to partner with Cameroon in growing the economies as well as to ensure the safety of lives, land and maritime borders of the both countries.

In his remarks, President Biya, who spoke in French, reiterated the determination of his country to end the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Biya also hailed Buhari’s efforts in the fight against the activities of Boko Haram within and beyond Nigeria.

He further called for joint agricultural programmes between Nigeria and Cameroon along their border communities to address the challenges of youth unemployment in their respective countries.

The event was attended by dignitaries among them Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Others are Chief Justice of the Federation, Mahmud Muktar and top private sector and government functionaries.