The Akwa Ibom Government has appealed to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, to come to the assistance of Cameroonian refugees who have settled in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, Nkopuruk Ekaiko, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Friday. Ekaiko said that the state government had been over stretched in rendering assistance to the refugees, calling on the commission to intervene.

According to him the commission has given assistance to refugees in the neighbouring states saying that those in Akwa Ibom should be so treated. He said: “What I am saying is that the relevant federal agencies should live up to the expectations of these people.

“The agencies should ensure that they provide relief materials to the refugees and rehabilitate them as they are doing in other states. “It is not only in Akwa Ibom state that we have these refugees. There are some in Cross River and there are kinds of interventions the commission has made there and other places.”

He disclosed that the state government had informed the commission about the presence of the refugees since last year and had been waiting for its response. The permanent secretary said the state government had expected that the commission would as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of the refugees.

He said: “Last year, there were some returnees and refugees from the Republic of Cameroon. Each of them was interviewed by the immigration services. “This office visited their camps at Mkpat Enin, Eket and Oron for some assessment. Immediately after that assessment late last year, the state government sent relief materials to them.”

Source: The Eagle Online