Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori approved a welfare package for Deltans who returned from South Africa after xenophobic attacks, including a 2 million naira grant for each affected family and monthly stipends for individuals and families.
Johnson Erijo, the governor’s chief of staff, announced the package at a reception at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
Welfare Package Details
Under the package, each individual returnee will receive 200,000 naira monthly, and each affected family will receive 300,000 naira monthly, from August 2026 until May 29, 2027, the end of Oborevwori’s first tenure.
Governor’s Remarks
Erijo, representing Oborevwori, condemned the attacks as a gross violation of human dignity. Oborevwori said no individual should be subjected to violence, intimidation or discrimination on account of nationality and expressed sympathy for the victims’ physical, emotional and financial losses. He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the prompt intervention that facilitated the safe evacuation of affected Nigerians from South Africa.
Health and Social Support
The state government will provide free medical screening for all returnees at government-owned health facilities. Oborevwori directed the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Services to provide trauma counseling and psychosocial support for victims and their families.
Oborevwori urged Deltans to receive the returnees with compassion, solidarity and kindness, saying such values reflect the Delta spirit. He assured the victims that the experience would not define their future and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating opportunities for all citizens while calling for sustained protection of the rights and dignity of Nigerians living abroad.
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Reintegration Support
Earlier, Ejiro Etacherure, commissioner for the Bureau for Special Duties, assured the returnees of the government’s commitment to helping them rebuild their lives. He described their safe return as a testament to compassionate leadership and effective collaboration between federal and state governments.
Etacherure recounted that reports of the attacks, which claimed lives and destroyed property and livelihoods, were received with deep shock and sadness. He thanked God for preserving the victims’ lives and commended Oborevwori for his swift intervention.
Etacherure said the governor personally directed that every returning Deltan be properly identified, documented and received with dignity. He said the governor mandated relevant agencies to provide assistance for their reintegration. He encouraged the returnees to take advantage of economic and empowerment opportunities, saying Delta remains a land of opportunities under Oborevwori’s administration.
Returnees’ Response
Jacob Agbada, responding on behalf of the returnees, expressed profound appreciation to Oborevwori for the 2 million naira grant and monthly stipend, describing the gesture as timely and life-changing. He said they were deeply grateful for the governor’s compassion, generosity and unwavering support during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
