President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N15 billion to implement the exit strategy and the immediate repatriation of the Nigerian refugees in the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.
A breakdown of the amount shows that the sum of N6 billion was released to the Borno State Government; N3 billion to the Defence Headquarters; N2.5 billion to NEMA and N3 billion to the Refugee Commission for the first phase of the work of the Presidential Committee.
A statement by the Vice President’s spokesman, Laolu Akande quoted him as saying: “The President is very serious about the work of the Committee” emphasizing the need for judicious use of resources and transparency in the spending of the funds already released”.
Consequently, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has directed all government agencies involved in the implementation of the work of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Returns and Resettlement of Displaced Persons in the North-East to harmonise items needed and their prices in all procurements to be undertaken on behalf of the Committee.
He gave the directives during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.
At the meeting, presentations were made by the Borno State Government, the Military and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, and the National Emergency Management Agency
The Vice President, who expressed serious concern about the price differentials and the duplication of needs, directed that the Sub-Committee on harmonization of needs and prices should correct the situation.
Osinbajo, who is the Chairman of the Committee, also directed effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation at a meeting he presided over at the Presidential Villa.
