BY ABDULKADIR M LAWAN
Nigerian citizens taking refuge in Baga Sola, Republic of Chad, mostly women and children, will soon return to their ancestral homes in Borno State.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum announced this plan during a sympathy visit from a Chadian delegation to Government House Maiduguri on Wednesday, following the recent flood disaster in the state.
The decade-long Boko Haram crisis in North East Nigeria forced many to seek safety in nearby countries like Chad.
Now, with normalcy returning to the region, these individuals will be repatriated.
To boost economic growth, Gov. Zulum plans to restore waterway transport between Baga town and Chad to facilitate commerce.
He also aims to coordinate with the chambers of commerce in Chad and North Eastern Nigeria to bolster economic partnership.
A reciprocal visit to Chad is planned, where Gov. Zulum will meet with President Mahamat Idris Derby Itno to discuss regional economic and trade issues.
'I will soon pay a visit to Chad to discuss matters of mutual interest, particularly the restoration of waterway transport between Baga town and Chad to facilitate commerce,' the governor said.
He commended President Derby's leadership in the fight against Boko Haram and extended condolences for the recent loss of Chadian military officers killed in action.
while responding, the leader of the delagation, General Abdelkarim Idris Derby Itno conveyed President Derby's sympathy to the people of Borno following the recent flooding, highlighting the shared cultures and traditions between Borno and Chad.