Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has pledged financial support to citizens displaced by Boko Haram who are currently taking refuge in Cameroon, offering each returnee ₦500,000 as an incentive to come back home.
He made the commitment during a visit on Monday to the Minawao refugee settlement in Cameroon’s Far North region.
Zulum told the refugees that security conditions in their ancestral communities had significantly improved due to intensified military operations and strengthened civilian security structures across Gwoza and surrounding locations.
“The welfare of refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees remains a priority for us,” the governor said, reaffirming that rebuilding the lives of those affected by insurgency remains central to his government’s humanitarian and development efforts.
He further announced that Borno State, in partnership with the federal government, will provide a cash assistance of N500,000 to each refugee who is willing to return home, while women households will be given N100,000 each.
He explained that the support is intended to help families restart life and rebuild their homes.
Responding to the visit, the Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Mijinyawa Bakari, commended Zulum’s commitment, describing his continued interventions for displaced Nigerians as both remarkable and deeply humane.
“Borno State Governor has consistently demonstrated genuine concern and responsibility for his people, even beyond Nigeria’s borders,” Bakari said, noting Zulum’s long-standing support at the Minawao Camp.
Bakari added that Zulum’s frequent presence and direct engagement had provided relief to refugees and strengthened cooperation between the two countries on displacement and regional stability.
Zulum also inspected farmlands allocated to the refugees by Cameroonian authorities. He praised the community’s resilience and assured them that his administration would equip farmers with irrigation tools and water access points to boost productivity.
“Empowering refugees to maintain their livelihoods is central to restoring dignity and ensuring a smooth transition back into their communities,” he emphasized.
He reaffirmed his government’s pledge to support victims of insurgency, including those still residing in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Zulum was accompanied by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Gwoza representative Abdullahi Buba Abatcha, state commissioners, the Gwoza Local Government chairman, and other officials.
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