…Hails leadership on Migration, Security and Human Dignity
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR) on Monday commended the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his decisive and compassionate response to the 41 Edo indigenes evacuated from South Africa following the recent xenophobic attacks in Pretoria and Johannesburg.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued by Comrade Solomon Okoduwa, Executive Director, Initiative For Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR) Nigeria and made available to newsmen in Benin City, Edo State capital.
You will recall that on the 4th of May, 2026, IYAMIDR issued a comprehensive press statement on the safety of Nigerians in South Africa. In that statement IYAMIDR who urged the Federal Government and all state governments to urgently prepare to receive their citizens and put in place structured reintegration support to help returnees regain stability and dignity, noting that today IYAMIDR is glad to see that call translated into action.
Governor Okpebholo, while receiving the returnees at the Government House in Benin City, announced a support package of ₦1,000,000 for each of the 41 returnees to help them secure accommodation. The Governor further pledged the provision of soft loans to enable them start businesses and rebuild their livelihoods.
In their words captured in the video “They Took Our Husbands, They Took Our Shops, Our Cars And All We Worked For”, the returnees recounted their losses and expressed appreciation for the Governor’s intervention. The Governor assured them that Edo remains a safe place to live and encouraged them to see this moment as a fresh start.
IYAMIDR’s positioned that Governor Okpebholo governance with a human face by matching words with action is an attestation that he has set a standard for sub-national leadership on migration and reintegration.
“The international community is taking note of the efforts of the Edo State Government in addressing the challenges associated with both regular and irregular migration. When the duty called, Governor Okpebholo answered passionately.
“History will be kind to Governor Okpebholo for leading Edo State with empathy and humility. The world is watching, and proactive actions like this are being documented,” IYAMIDR added.
Going further, the IYAMIDR Executive Director therefore advised the Federal Government and other state governors to borrow a leaf from Edo State. He stated that the burden of reintegration cannot rest on the Federal Government alone, while urging the state to set up state-level reintegration desks as recommended in IYAMIDR May 4th statement.
According to him, states should provide immediate relief, housing support, and livelihood packages tailored to returnees from their states and partner with CSOs and agencies like NEMA, NCFRMI, SMEDAN, and NDE for coordinated support and monitoring.