Xenophobia: 41 Edo returnees receive ₦1m each from Okpebholo

By Jethro Ibileke

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo on Monday pledged the sum of ₦1 million to each the 41 South Africa returnees who are indigenes of state.

The returnees were evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.

Okpebholo who made the announcement on Monday while receiving the returnees at the Festival Hall of the Government House in Benin City, said the money will help them secure accommodation and rebuild their lives.

He said the state government would also provide soft loans to enable the returnees to start businesses and reintegrate into society.

“Your success begins today. Many of you possess knowledge and skills in different areas. Once you identify what you want to do, come to us. We will give you a soft loan to start with because we want you to fully reintegrate into society,” Okpebholo said.

He ordered that the money should be released to the returnees within 24 hours to help secure decent accommodations on time.

“Between now and tomorrow, you will receive that money so you will not be stranded. There is no place better than home. Nobody will chase you away from here. We have peace here. Edo is safe, and Nigeria is safe,” he said.

The governor urged the returnees to focus on rebuilding their lives, saying their survival was more important than the property they had lost.

“They may have taken everything away from you, but your life is more important than the things they took. As a government, we will continue to support our people wherever they are. If they are in distress, we will rescue them and ensure they do not go through such experiences again,” he said.

The Governor while reflecting on the historical relationship between Nigeria and South Africa, recalled that Nigerians had previously protected South Africans and their businesses and would not retaliate despite the attacks.

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Riches Unubun thanked the Edo State and Federal Governments for facilitating their evacuation from South Africa.

“When we leave here, we have the civic responsibility to appreciate what the Edo State Government has done for us. Let them take us to where we can register and collect our voter cards because we want these great things happening in Edo to continue,” he said.

The Director-General of the Edo State Migration Agency, Lucky Agazuma, commended the governor for supporting Edo indigenes facing hardship in other African countries.