The Abia State Government says it is processing another batch of Nigerians returning from South Africa amid ongoing concerns over xenophobic violence affecting Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country.
The state government said the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection is coordinating the protection, voluntary repatriation and reintegration of Abians affected by xenophobic violence in South Africa.
Speaking with journalists on Monday after the State Executive Council meeting, the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, said the government was maintaining contact with leaders of the Abia community in South Africa to identify and verify other stranded Abians.
Mr Kanu said the state government would continue working with the Minister of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to facilitate the return of Abians who are facing difficulties in South Africa.
“The ministry is currently processing an additional batch of returnees while maintaining contact with the leaders of the Abia community in South Africa to identify and verify other stranded Abians,” he said.
He added that the government would continue providing assistance to “our unfortunate brothers and sisters who are facing a hard time in South Africa.”
The latest development follows the Federal Government’s earlier evacuation exercise, which brought home 1,490 Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks and related security concerns in South Africa.
Support for Returnees
The Abia Government said its focus was not only on bringing affected residents home but also on their protection and reintegration after their return.
The state has previously been involved in efforts to assist Nigerians affected by the situation in South Africa, as returnees have reported discrimination, documentation problems, financial losses and other hardships.
Eight sexual and gender-based violence cases recorded
Meanwhile, the Abia Government disclosed that the Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Aba recorded eight cases of sexual and gender-based violence during the period under review.
Mr Kanu said the survivors were aged between four and 25 years.
The reported cases involved alleged abuse by neighbours, landlords, family members and, in one case, a labourer. He noted that several incidents involved repeated assaults on young children by the same alleged perpetrator.
According to him, the centre provided medical, psychosocial and learning support to the victims and is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to pursue justice.
MTN network expansion
The commissioner also disclosed progress in the state government’s partnership with MTN Nigeria to expand voice and data coverage across Abia.
He said 77 per cent of the newly rolled-out sites are currently operational, with residents reporting improved coverage in previously underserved areas.
Mr Kanu added that MTN was working to restore the almost 100 per cent coverage achieved a few weeks earlier before vandalism affected most of the newly deployed sites.
New teachers get orientation
The state government also announced that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education would hold a five-day orientation programme for newly recruited teachers.
The programme is designed to familiarise the teachers with the vision and strategic direction of education under the current administration.
For Abians stranded or facing insecurity in South Africa, the ongoing repatriation process provides a pathway back home, while the state government’s reintegration efforts are aimed at helping returnees rebuild their lives.
The development also highlights the wider impact of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians abroad, with the Federal Government’s earlier evacuation exercise already bringing thousands of affected Nigerians back home.
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