Nigeria plans to return refugees, migrants back home

The Nigerian government has expressed its readiness to return refugees and migrants to their various homes by 2024.

The new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu made this known on Friday in Maiduguri, Borno State, during her two-day working visit to the state.

Edu noted that structures must be put in place to repatriate and reintegrate the internally displaced persons back to their communities.

Statement by her media aide, Rasheed Zubair, stated that plans were underway to establish humanitarian hubs across the 774 local government areas as part of measures to reach the poor.

On plans of the ministry, Edu said: “The Ministry under me will not only aim at eliminating poverty, but it shall also provide safety nets to prevent Nigerians from going under the poverty line.

“The Ministry shall establish humanitarian hubs in all Local Government Areas as a deliberate policy of targeting the grassroots, the rural poor that are more in large numbers in communities and villages.

“The Ministry shall deliberately create job opportunities for youth on a short- and long-term basis, giving micro-credits, vocational training among others.”

Edu encouraged the state governor, Babagana Zulum to continue giving leadership and support at the state level so that the overall objective of eliminating hunger and poverty will be attained” she added.

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