Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council has approved a ”cessation clause” in respect of refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone who have been staying in Nigeria following the wars in both nations.
By the approval, made at Wednesday’s session of the council in the capital city of Abuja, nationals from both nations cease to be considered refugees within Nigeria.
Minister of Information and Communications, Mr John Odey told journalists after the weekly meeting that
“Council, after exhaustive consideration, approved the declaration of cessation clause for the 1,606 Sierra Leonean and 5,528 Liberian refugees remaining in Nigeria and the closure of Oru refugee camp,” Information Minister John Odey told journalists after the meeting..
“It also approved that the multipartite agreement (signed) by the government of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria as well as UNHCR and ECOWAS on local integration be forwarded to the President of ECOWAS Commission for possible consideration during the submit of Heads of States and Government in June 2008 in Abuja, with a view to applying it in other parts of the sub-region.” Panapress.
