Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved N1 million each for 31 indigenes who recently returned to the state from South Africa.
The state government said the financial assistance was intended to provide immediate relief to the returnees and reassure them that they had not been abandoned. The approval was disclosed in a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku.
According to the statement, the government has commenced a comprehensive profiling exercise for the 31 returnees.
The exercise is expected to examine their individual circumstances, needs and socio-economic conditions. The information gathered, the government said, would guide the development of appropriate interventions aimed at supporting their sustainable reintegration.
It would also help determine the form of social protection support required by each returnee. The government said the immediate financial assistance formed part of a broader commitment to helping vulnerable residents recover from difficult circumstances.
The statement described the governor’s intervention as a demonstration of his concern for vulnerable people within and outside the state. It said the government remained committed to ensuring that Abians were given opportunities to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to society.
The administration also highlighted what it described as its focus on protecting the dignity and welfare of citizens facing hardship. According to the government, the intervention is consistent with policies introduced since Otti assumed office to support vulnerable residents.
The state government assured the returnees that their circumstances would not make them less welcome in Abia. It reiterated that the state remained home to all its indigenes, regardless of where they had lived or the challenges they encountered.
The government said its objective was not limited to providing immediate financial relief but also to helping the returnees regain stability. It added that the profiling exercise would provide a basis for interventions tailored to their individual circumstances.
The Abia government further assured residents that no indigene would be abandoned because of their location or personal circumstances. It said the administration would continue to pursue measures aimed at helping vulnerable Abians recover, rebuild and participate productively in society.
