Buhari President vows to better lives of Boko Haram victims

President vows to better lives of Boko Haram victims

dimeji akinloye

August 18, 2016 7:34 PM

The President assured that he will fast-track the voluntary return, rehabilitation and reintegration of the IDPs into the society.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State

President

The president gave the assurance when he received the outgoing Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Asharaf Abdelkader Salama on Thursday, August 18, at State House, Abuja.

He commended Egypt for identifying with challenges confronting the country, especially the plight of IDPs, which he said had remained a topmost priority for the Nigerian Government.

"The displaced persons want to go back to their homes. They want to resume their normal lives. They want to go back to the land, which they have not cultivated for over three years now.

"We will work to restore their confidence, and also work on infrastructure, so that they can quickly resettle,’’ he said.

The President noted that the bond of friendship between Nigeria and Egypt is very strong as demonstrated in their growing cooperation on regional and international issues.

ALSO READ: IDPs lament poor facilities in camps [Photos]

In his remarks, Salama, who spent four years in Nigeria, said he was the first foreign diplomat to travel by road from Maiduguri to Yobe, North Eastern Nigeria, last month.

He told the President he is proud to have made the journey through an area once considered a stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists, following the successes recorded by the Nigerian military fighting insurgents in the region.

He described the people of Nigeria as "friendly and generous’’, saying he hopes to be back in the country again.

dimeji akinloye