Xenophobia: Okpebholo pledges N41m support for Edo returnees from South Africa

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has pledged N41 million to support 41 indigenes who have returned from South Africa following xenophobic attacks. The governor announced that each returnee would receive N1 million within 24 hours to secure accommodation. Additionally, the state government will provide soft loans to help them establish businesses and reintegrate into society.

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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.

Governor Okpebholo made this commitment on Monday while receiving the returnees at the Government House in Benin City. He stated that the financial support is intended to help them rebuild their lives after losing their property during the attacks in South Africa. "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.

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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 assured the returnees that they would receive the funds promptly and would 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 added. The governor urged the returnees to focus on rebuilding their lives, stressing that their survival is paramount.

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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.

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Riches Unubun thanked the Edo State and Federal Governments for facilitating their evacuation. Unubun expressed the civic responsibility to appreciate the Edo State Government's actions and requested assistance in registering to collect voter cards, indicating a desire to support the state's ongoing positive developments.

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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.