Edo Governor offers N1m to returnees from South Africa

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has promised to give N1 million to each Edo person who returned home after facing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

This money is meant to help them with housing and settling back in.

Mr Okpebholo shared this news while speaking to a group of returnees at the Festival Hall of the Edo Government House in Benin City on Monday.

He said the journey for the returnees has begun. Many of them have skills and knowledge that will help them succeed.

“Once you identify what you want to do, come to us. We will give you a soft loan to kick off, because we want you to be fully reintegrated into society.

“But for you to arrange your housing, we will give each of you N1 million 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.

“South Africa may have taken everything from you, but you have life, which is more important.

“We will continue to support our children wherever they are. If they are in distress, we will rescue them and make them comfortable so they do not go through the same experience again at the hands of evil people.”

Support for Returnees

Mr Okpebholo also talked about the past relationship between Nigeria and South Africa. He mentioned that Nigerians have protected South Africans and their businesses in the past. He added that Nigerians would not treat others the same way.

Riches Unubun spoke on behalf of the returnees. He thanked the Edo and federal governments for their quick action in bringing them back home.

“When we leave here, we have the civic responsibility to appreciate what the Edo government has done for us.

“Let them take us to where we can register and collect our voters’ cards, because we want these great things happening in Edo to continue. Today, we want to vote for continuity,” he said.

The Director General of the Edo Immigration Agency, Lucky Agazuma, praised Governor Okpebholo for his care towards the returnees.