The government of Borno State in North East Nigeria has announced that all internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri, the state capital, will be closed.
The camps will be decommissioned by December 31, 2021, according to the authorities.
Babagana Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, revealed this to state house media during a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, on Friday.
The decision to close the camps in Maiduguri, according to Zulum, was influenced by the state’s recent improvement in security.
He added that the state government decided to close the camps to enable displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes.
Zulum said, “I came to brief the president on efforts made by Borno state government in ensuring the return of internally displaced persons to their homes.
“So far so good, Borno state government has started well and arrangements have been concluded to ensure the closure of all internally displaced persons’ camps that are inside Maiduguri on or before December 31.
“In addition to that, Borno state government is also making efforts, in collaboration with the ministry, to continue with the repatriation of Nigerians in Minawo camp in Cameroon.
“Furthermore, on November 27, the Borno state government will ensure the resettlement of IDPs that are living in Diffa province of Niger to Malumfatari, a local government area in Borno, where we don’t have human population because of the insurgency.”
Zulum also commended security agencies for their support and efforts in the restoration of peace to troubled LGAs of the state.