Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has approved N1 million each for 31 indigenes of the state who recently returned from South Africa. The financial assistance to the Abia returnees is intended to provide immediate relief while the state government assesses their circumstances and plans longer-term support. The approval was disclosed in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku.
According to the statement, the intervention is also aimed at reassuring the returnees that they have not been abandoned during a period of need. The government said it is currently undertaking comprehensive profiling of each returnee to understand their individual circumstances and socio-economic realities.
The profiling will be used to determine appropriate interventions for sustainable reintegration and social protection coverage. The approach is intended to ensure that assistance provided to the Abia returnees is tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. The statement read, “The gesture underscores Governor Otti’s compassion and unwavering commitment to the welfare of vulnerable persons in communities across the State and beyond.
“It also reflects the government’s resolve to ensure that every Abian, regardless of circumstance, is given an opportunity to recover, rebuild, and contribute meaningfully to society.
“Since assumption of office, Governor Otti has prioritized policies and programmes that protect the dignity and wellbeing of citizens, especially those facing hardship.”
The intervention places immediate financial support alongside the state government’s planned assessment of the returnees. The profiling process could provide the government with information needed to determine the type of economic, social or welfare assistance appropriate for each individual.
The government also used the announcement to restate its position that Abia remains a place of support for indigenes facing difficult circumstances, regardless of where they are located. It added, “The Government of Abia State under His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, reiterates that Abia remains home to all its sons and daughters. It also assures that no Abian will be left behind, irrespective of their location or circumstance.”
The N1 million grants therefore represent the immediate component of the intervention, while the ongoing profiling is expected to guide subsequent measures for the Abia returnees. The state government’s next steps will depend on the findings from the profiling exercise and the specific needs identified among the 31 beneficiaries.
