Oborevwori Approves ₦2m Grant, Monthly Stipends for South Africa Returnees

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has announced a financial support package for Deltans evacuated from South Africa after the recent wave of xenophobic attacks, approving a ₦2 million grant for each affected family and monthly stipends to assist their resettlement.

The package, unveiled on Friday at a reception for the returnees at the Government House in Asaba, provides a monthly allowance of ₦200,000 for each returnee and ₦300,000 for every affected family. The payments will commence in August 2026 and continue until May 29, 2027.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Hon. Johnson Erijo, the governor said the intervention was aimed at helping the victims recover from the hardship caused by the attacks. He condemned the violence against Nigerians in South Africa, stressing that no one should be persecuted or denied their rights because of their nationality.

Oborevwori expressed sympathy to the returnees for the losses they suffered and praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for facilitating their evacuation to Nigeria. He also directed that all the victims receive free medical examinations at state-owned hospitals, while the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Services will provide counselling and other psychosocial support to aid their recovery.

The governor appealed to residents of the state to welcome the returnees and support their reintegration, assuring them that his administration would continue to implement programmes that improve the welfare of Deltans and safeguard their interests.

In his remarks, the Commissioner in charge of the Bureau for Special Duties, Hon. Ejiro Etacherure, said the state government moved swiftly after reports of the attacks emerged, ensuring that affected Deltans were identified, documented and received on arrival. He added that government agencies had been directed to provide the assistance needed to help the victims settle back into society.

Etacherure encouraged the returnees to embrace the opportunities available in Delta State, particularly the various empowerment and economic initiatives designed to improve livelihoods.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Jacob Agbada thanked Governor Oborevwori for the support, saying the financial assistance would go a long way in helping the victims rebuild their lives after the traumatic experience in South Africa.