Imo returnees from S’Africa appeal to Uzodimma for ₦1m grant

More than 30 Imo residents who recently returned from South Africa gathered near the state government headquarters on Thursday with a direct request for Governor Hope Uzodimma: include them in the ₦1 million grant already given to other returnees.

Carrying placards, the group asked to meet the official responsible for the reintegration desk for South Africa returnees. They said they had not been registered for the assistance and now needed help to start rebuilding their lives.

The returnees praised Uzodimma for supporting people who came back earlier, but said the same support had not reached them. “We gathered here from South Africa. We appreciate what the Governor started but we have not been captured. We want the support from him,” returnee Joseph Njoku said.

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These are the Imolites from South Africa to appeal to the Governor for inclusion. We are pleading to whoever is in charge to please include us and assist.

Another member of the group appealed to whoever oversees the program to add them. “These are the Imolites from South Africa to appeal to the Governor for inclusion. We are pleading to whoever is in charge to please include us and assist.”

Uzodimma announced and awarded a ₦1 million cash grant to each Imo indigene in the first batch of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa in June. Nigerians and other Africans had been forced to leave South Africa during attacks by locals who accused foreigners of taking jobs from South Africans. The Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, did not respond to calls seeking comment by the time the report was published.

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We gathered here from South Africa. We appreciate what the Governor started but we have not been captured. We want the support from him.