Yobe State Governor Mala Buni visited Nigerian refugees at the Kaya site in Chad on Tuesday to pledge support for their repatriation [1].
The visit marks a significant effort to reintegrate displaced citizens into Nigeria. By coordinating directly with refugees in the Lac Province, the Yobe State government aims to assess welfare needs and establish a formal pathway for those who wish to leave the camps [2].
Governor Buni, who also serves as the Chairman of the Lake Chad Governors' Forum, traveled to the Kaya refugee site to meet with the displaced population [1]. During the visit, he said the Yobe State government would facilitate the return of individuals willing to repatriate to Nigeria [3].
The governor's mission focused on assessing the current living conditions of the refugees in the Lac Province [2]. This assessment is intended to ensure that the repatriation process is handled with necessary government support to prevent further instability upon their return [3].
While most reports place the refugees at the Kaya site in Chad, some conflicting accounts have suggested the presence of refugees in the Republic of Niger [2]. However, the primary focus of the governor's recent diplomatic effort remained the Kaya site within Chad [1].
This initiative is part of a broader regional strategy to stabilize the Lake Chad basin. By encouraging the voluntary return of refugees, Yobe State seeks to restore community structures that were disrupted by conflict, and displacement [3].
“Governor Mala Buni visited Nigerian refugees at the Kaya site in Chad”
The move by the Yobe State government indicates a shift toward active repatriation in the Lake Chad region. By utilizing the Lake Chad Governors' Forum, Nigeria is attempting to synchronize state-level resources with international refugee populations to stabilize border regions and reduce the long-term reliance on foreign asylum camps.
