Return of Nigerian Refugees
The Cameroonian government has identified over 67,000 Nigerians who returned from Northern Cameroon mainly at the Fotokol border to Gamboru Ngala, Borno from January through April 2016. As of 26 April 2016, UNHCR has registered 22,092 Nigerians who have returned from Cameroon to Adamawa, many under conditions falling short of international legal obligations. In Borno, UNHCR is preparing to put in place registration systems to respond to the return of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon.
UNHCR met with the Acting Federal Commissioner for National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to discuss an arrangement whereby 10 NCFRMI staff members from the protection, registration and community service will be deployed on a joint registration mission with registration system at critical border areas with Cameroon.
UNHCR in Borno State for a one month period in order to establish a timely the need for to scale up NCFRMI’s presence in the Northeast especially in the wake of the rising number of Nigerian returnees from Cameroon.
Recommended that NFCRMI reopen its office in Borno State. UNHCR and NCFRMI are finalizing In view to quickly setting up a registration system for returning Nigerians in Borno, UNHCR and NCFRMI are finalizing an arrangement whereby 10 NCFRMI staff members from the protection, registration and community service will be deployed on a joint registration mission with UNHCR in Borno State for a one month period in order to establish a timely registration system at critical border areas with Cameroon.
The Government of Cameroon has shared a draft tripartite agreement with the Government of Nigeria. A Regional Protection Dialogue, supported by UNHCR, is planned for 6-10 June 2016, to take place in Abuja, which will bring together officials from the four Lake Chad Basin countries to discuss critical protection issues including regional durable solutions. The Regional Protection Dialogue will inform discussions over tripartite agreements with Lake Chad Basin States as a mechanism for advocacy on issues such as safe, voluntary and dignified return and international standards relating to forced return and determination of conditions conducive to voluntary repatriation.