The Nigeria Immigration Service, has disclosed not less than 30, 000 refugees are expected to enter the country from Cameroon through Cross River State following the break out of crisis in Southern Cameroon.

This was disclosed by the  Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr Mohammed Babandede, who further stated that up to 40, 000 refugees are expected to migrate to Nigeria as projected by the United Nations Refugee Agency, and Cross River State is expected to play host to 30, 000 of this number.

The Nigeria state of Cross River, shares boundary at different points with southern Cameroon and is also expected to  facilitate the entry of the Cameroonian refugees. The immigration boss, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Calabar, as part of a two-day visit to Cross River state to access the situation on ground, told Governor Ben Ayade that 300 refugees have already been registered within the last few weeks.

He said that he was in Cross River State to ensure that adequate measures were put in place to properly register all the migrants that would be entering the country from the troubled Cameroonian region.

Babandede said, “You are aware of the crisis happening in the Nigeria-Cameroon border for which the UN Refugee Agency has projected 40, 000 refugees that will be coming to Nigeria and 30, 000 of them are likely to come in through Cross River State.

“Cameroon refugees should be well protected just as they did for us during the crisis period of Boko-Haram in the North- Eastern part of Nigeria. We are here to ensure safe security situation in the state during this period.”

Governor Ayade in his response, declared government’s readiness to welcome the refugees from neighbouring Cameroon. “Going by the estimation you have given from the UN Refugee Agency, about 40, 000 refugees will be coming into Nigeria. We have a duty to cater for the needs of our Cameroonian brothers and I think the Immigration has a big responsibility here,” he said.

Source: Naija News