By Benny News Hub
IBADAN — The Oyo State Government has received 70 indigenes evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks and difficult circumstances affecting Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country.
The returnees, comprising 42 adults and 28 minors, are now undergoing a reintegration process as the state government assesses their individual circumstances and considers appropriate areas of support.
The returnees were formally received on behalf of the Oyo State Government by the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Migration and Homeland Security, Assistant Controller General of Immigration (rtd.), Segun Adegoke, at the Conference Room of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government in Ibadan.
‘Welcome Home’
Representing Governor Makinde, Adegoke assured the returnees that their return should not be seen as a failure or the end of their journey, but as the beginning of a new chapter.
He acknowledged that returning under such circumstances could mean leaving behind livelihoods, businesses, investments and personal plans.
According to him, the state government is engaging directly with the returnees to understand their individual experiences, assess their needs and determine how they can be supported to rebuild their lives in Oyo State.
Government to Assess Skills, Health and Needs
Adegoke urged the returnees to be open during the assessment process, noting that many of them had acquired skills, knowledge, networks and entrepreneurial experience abroad that could be useful to their communities and the state.
The returnees have also undergone basic medical screening, including checks for blood pressure and blood sugar, as part of efforts to assess their wellbeing following their return.
He said the government would assess their individual needs, health conditions and skills acquired abroad in determining appropriate areas of assistance and opportunities for sustainable reintegration.
Warning Against Dangerous Migration Routes
The government official also used the occasion to caution young Nigerians against embarking on dangerous journeys in search of opportunities abroad.
He stressed that migration itself is not the problem, but irregular and unsafe migration exposes people to unnecessary risks.
According to him, the Oyo State Office of Migration and Homeland Security continues to sensitise young people on safe, orderly and regular migration while also creating awareness about legitimate migration opportunities.
The development comes after Nigeria completed a Federal Government-supported voluntary evacuation programme that brought 1,490 Nigerians back from South Africa amid security concerns linked to xenophobic attacks.
For the 70 Oyo indigenes, however, the journey does not end with their arrival home.
The state government says the focus now is on helping them rebuild, regain their productivity and turn their experiences abroad into opportunities for a more secure future at home.
Benny News Hub will continue to follow developments concerning the returnees and the state's reintegration efforts.
