Governor Uzodinma Administration Gives Hope to Abandoned Imo Returnees and Victims of South Africa Xenophobic Attack

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As Gov. Uzodinma’s SA Diaspora Affairs Fast Tracks Jobs for the Returnees

By Olalekan Balogun

Following the evacuation over 40 Imo Diasporans from South Africa in September 2019 during the life of the last administration in Imo State, it was expected that the state government rehabilitated them for proper reintegration into the society.

The evacuees were Imo State indigenes who were of xenophobic attack in South Africa. They were evacuated back to Nigeria alongside other Nigerians who suffered same fate.

Under a federal government arrangement, states were to rehabilitate all their returnees but unfortunately this never happened for the Imo State returnees.

Expressing their frustration, the returnees said, “we were passed on from one office to the other yet nothing happened. There were lots of challenges getting through to anyone…”

However, recently, the returnees represented by their executive members, visited the Office of the Governor on Diaspora Affairs, to share their frustration, disappointment and despondency with Hon. Cllr. Celia Osakwe-Hibbert, Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor on Diaspora.

They explained that they have been sceptical of seeking further government support since all their efforts yielded no results with the past administration.

The Street Reporters Newspaper can confirm that Hon. Cllr. Osakwe-Hibbert during the meeting assured the returnees of the Governor Uzodinma’s utmost commitment to all Imo indigenes both those at home and in Diaspora.

“I am sorry to hear of your experience in your host country and I’m equally sorry to hear of the further frustrations you had to face on reaching Imo State last September.

“I can assure you that my Office will see to what needs to be done and I’ll relay your concerns to my Boss, Sen. Hope Uzodinma”, Hon. Celia Osakwe-Hibbert apologised.

Our Correspondent gathered that following the visit, arrangements were made for the returnees to be fast tracked for jobs in few days.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora, was said to had immediately provided the South African returnees  an office, office equipments and assigned one of he highly trained staff to the returnees for ease of compilation of their names and documentations to beat the tight deadline for the job application process.

The SA Diaspora who pledged full support of her boss, Governor Hope Uzodinma to the xenophobic attack victims.

She also disclosed that the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Rt. Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa was also always on hand to guide the Imo Diaspora Office on a few technical issues.

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