Lawmakers urge FG to facilitate return of Nigerian refugees

The House of Representatives, on Thursday urged the Federal Government to facilitate the speedy return of Nigerian refugees from neighbouring countries.

This followed a motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance moved by Rep. Mohammed Sheriff (Borno-APC), and unanimously adopted by the House.

Moving the motion, Sheriff stressed the need for the Federal Government to ensure that refugees who were displaced as a result of activities of insurgency were fully reintegrated into their communities.

According to him, the refugees are vulnerable to health threats because they lack adequate health care.

"Since no good health condition is guaranteed, there is possible outbreak of diseases in the camps.’’

He further urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to arrange for a coordinated process of returning the refugees.

The lawmaker added that such coordinated arrangement was crucial to forestall planned return of the refugees en masse.

"About 12, 000 refugees’ plan to return en masse under uncoordinated arrangement portends serious security and health challenge to the country’’, Sheriff said.

Rep. Bashir Baballe (Kano-APC), pointed out that the refugees were confronted with difficult situations as they lacked homes, starved and have their children out of school.

"Those people are suffering; they are dying silently due to hunger and untold hardship’’, Baballe said.

Rep. Chike Okafor (Imo-APC), expressed concern that the refugees were not protected in the neighbouring countries they sought refuge.