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Gov. Alex Otti Approves ₦31m Relief Package for 31 Abia Returnees from South Africa
Gov. Alex Otti Approves ₦31m Relief Package for 31 Abia Returnees from South Africa
The Abia State Government has approved a ₦31 million interim support package for 31 verified indigenes who recently returned to the state from South Africa, as part of efforts to help them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their communities.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday, August 17, 2026, while briefing pressmen on the outcome of the week’s Executive Council Meeting presided over by State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR.
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According to the Commissioner, Governor Otti approved ₦1 million for each of the 31 returnees as immediate assistance to ease the challenges associated with their resettlement and provide them with a foundation for starting afresh.
Beyond the financial intervention, the state government has commenced a comprehensive profiling exercise to identify the individual circumstances, skills and specific needs of the returnees.
The exercise is expected to guide the development of targeted programmes that will support their long-term integration and help them regain economic stability.
Prince Kanu further disclosed that the Governor had directed the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to investigate whether more Abians are currently stranded in South Africa.
The directive is aimed at determining the scale of the situation and ensuring that the state government has a clearer picture of Abians who may require assistance to return home.
The latest intervention underscores the Otti administration’s focus on social protection and its commitment to supporting vulnerable residents and Abians facing difficult circumstances both within and outside the country.
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