About 1.5 million Nigerians have been displaced by the six-year Boko Haram insurgency in the country’s North, President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed yesterday.

“We also have about 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria and we have a programme of rehabilitation and reintegration into the society for them, which involves providing shelter and schools to the displaced persons,” Buhari said in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, while speaking at an interactive session with Nigerians living in Cameroon during his two-day working and friendly visit to the country,

The President assured Nigerians that the current security challenges are not insurmountable.

He said Nigeria was working with all her neighbours, including Cameroon, to fight and stand firmly against all forms of terror and trans-border crimes.

He appealed for patience and vigilance from Nigerians to ensure that youths are not lured into joining “misguided groups.”

“We are determined to end this callousness against our innocent citizens. The defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians and all those who live in the country are out top priorities. We shall explore all reasonable options to enable us to bring this rebellion to an end,” he vowed.

The President pledged to do everything possible toward bringing positive change to Nigeria.

“Despite the numerous challenges confronting us, the future of our country is bright. You all know very well that your fellow Nigerians are resilient, hardworking and patriotic. These qualities have always seen us through our most difficult national challenges and they will do so now,” he said.

On the Bakassi issue, which some Nigerians have been agitating should be revisited, President Buhari said his administration would ensure the faithful implementation of the Green Tree Agreement, which regulates the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon.

“Since Nigeria allowed the case to go to court (ICJ), and we lost, we have to abide by it,” the President said in response to a question from a Nigerian on the issue.

President Buhari, who is on his maiden visit to the country after his inauguration on May 29, said his administration had yet to articulate a foreign policy for Nigeria beyond what was captured in the manifesto of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“However we will make our embassies more efficient and improve our relations with other countries,” he said.

The President urged Nigerians in Diaspora to be law abiding in their host countries and told representatives of the over 4 million Nigerians living in Cameroon to continue to live in peace and harmony with Cameroonians.

On the plight of some 40,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, who were forced to flee their homes because of Boko Haram terrorists, the President said the Federal government would ensure their safe return and rehabilitation in the shortest possible time.

Responding to a question on the voting rights for Nigerians in Diaspora, the President promised that his administration would revisit the issue, which would require legislation from the National Assembly.

President Buhari will depart Cameroon for Abuja today after addressing a joint press conference in Yaounde with his host, President Paul Biya.

•Photo shows displaced Nigerians undergoing registration at a camp.

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