Repatriated
7,790 Nigerians have been repatriated from refugee camps in Chad
Thousands of Nigerians who fled to the Republic of Chad about a decade ago because of the Boko Haram insurgency have returned to Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State. The state government has opened a temporary camp for them in Maiduguri, where they are being moved back to their ancestral communities in batches. Two weeks ago, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum led a high-profile Nigerian delegation to initiate the repatriation of the refugees who fled the Boko Haram insurgency to Baga Sola, Chad Republic. According to the delegation, 1,768 families, comprising 7,790 people, would be returned to Nigeria in the exercise.
Conflict, deprivation, and climate change, among other factors, have driven a mass exodus of Nigerians from fringe communities in border regions across West and Central Africa. According to data from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), over 400,000 Nigerian refugees are currently residing in Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. Earlier estimates by the UNHCR in 2023 placed the figure at around 339,667, while the European Commission reported over 385,000 as of late 2024. These numbers fluctuate due to ongoing conflict, voluntary returns, and new displacements, but the consensus places the current range between 385,000 and over 400,000 as of early 2025.
Historically, Cameroon has hosted the largest share of Nigerian refugees, with tens of thousands crossing the border to escape insecurity. As of mid-2022, Cameroon accommodated approximately 78,000 Nigerian refugees, a number likely to have increased with subsequent crises. Chad, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin, also shelters a significant number, often cited in the hundreds of thousands. Meanwhile, Niger hosts over 100,000 refugees in regions such as Diffa and Maradi, a figure that continues to rise due to worsening insecurity in northwestern Nigeria.
Borno State’s decision to close IDP camps and repatriate displaced persons between 2021 and 2022 was driven as much by political calculations as by conditions on the ground. Despite advisory dissent and factual realities, the government launched an aggressive media campaign to convince the public that the military had successfully reclaimed many areas from Boko Haram, rendering them habitable for civilians. However, the data at the time told a different story, particularly in the northern parts of the state and areas closest to Lake Chad.
Three years on, the security situation has barely improved. If anything, insurgents have grown bolder, launching more attacks on civilian farmers and fishermen while escalating assaults on military positions. Beyond security concerns, funding for returning IDPs remains a pressing issue. Foreign partners, including the United Nations, UNDP, and the Victims Support Fund (VSF), have historically collaborated with Borno State on IDP programmes, but their specific financial commitments for 2025 remain unclear.
Previous efforts have seen significant external support. In 2022, VSF resettled 100,000 IDPs with ₦1.6 billion ($1 million in 2025 conversion rates)—half in grants, half allocated for food and non-food items. As of 2023, the UN pledged continued support for the 1.6 million IDPs in Borno. The ₦152.69 billion in capital receipts for 2025 likely includes some form of foreign aid, but exact figures remain unpublicised. Governor Zulum noted spending ₦40 billion on IDP feeding programmes in 2024, per statements on X, providing a baseline for estimating future allocations.
The 2025 budget, 42% larger than that single programme, prioritises recovery efforts, with IDPs as a focal point. Assuming a similar or slightly increased commitment—adjusted for inflation and expanded initiatives such as fuel subsidies and scholarships—direct IDP spending from state funds could range between ₦40 billion and ₦60 billion. Based on previous funding patterns, foreign contributions, embedded in the capital receipts, may add another ₦10 billion to ₦20 billion. Consequently, the projected spending on IDPs in 2025 could fall between ₦50 billion and ₦80 billion.
This remains an informed estimate, as the state has not provided a precise breakdown, and foreign pledges for the year remain undisclosed. However, with the United States scaling back USAID support and international donors prioritising more pressing conflicts such as those in Gaza and Sudan, Borno State will require all the assistance it can secure. Yet, given the track record of its previous refugee resettlement programmes, there is little faith in the government’s sincerity.
The critical question remains: how well has Nigeria managed its existing displaced populations before seeking to integrate new ones? By the end of 2023, over 2.3 million Nigerians remained internally displaced due to conflict and violence. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and NCFRMI serve as the primary bodies responsible for their welfare, yet despite their efforts, conditions in IDP camps remain dire. Many displaced persons continue to endure inadequate shelter, food shortages, and limited access to healthcare.
The government’s decision to shut down displacement camps and relocate IDPs to unsafe areas raises concerns about the sustainability and security of such initiatives. Prioritising resettlement without addressing the underlying security crisis only deepens the suffering of IDPs. Moreover, younger returnees who were born outside Nigeria and have no strong sense of identity or allegiance to the country may become easy recruits for terrorist organisations, further worsening the insecurity.
The absence of comprehensive legislation governing IDP rights and management has hindered effective coordination and long-term solutions. As Nigeria grapples with continued displacement crises, it must implement robust policies, improve living conditions in IDP settlements, and establish sustainable strategies before absorbing new displaced populations. Without these measures, any attempt at large-scale resettlement risks becoming another costly but inconclusive exercise, exacerbating existing governance challenges.
In the end, while the Nigerian government has made efforts to address the displacement crisis, significant gaps remain in ensuring the safety, welfare, and long-term integration of IDPs. Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated approach involving improved security, increased funding, and comprehensive legislative frameworks to protect the rights and dignity of displaced persons. Without such measures, the cycle of displacement and insecurity is likely to persist, further straining Nigeria’s already fragile social and economic fabric.