Xenophobia: Oyo receives 32 state returnees, gives N30,000 each

Oyo state government on Wednesday received 32 indigenes of the
state who were part of the nationals recently returned back to the
country following series of xenophobic attack on foreigners in
South African.

The figure includes 30 adults and two minors.

This is as the returnees were given N30,000 monetary gift by the
state government with a promise of conducting a profiling on them
to ascertain their areas of need.

The returnees who were led by the Director of Media, Nigerians
in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mr Abdulrahman Balogun were
received by the State Deputy Governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, at the
state government secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

While receiving the Oyo state born indigenes, Mr Olaniyan
reiterated the states commitment to ensure that the returnees find
their footings on time by carrying out a proper and comprehensive
profiling to confirm their particular areas of needs and ensure how
to attend to them.

Announcing the monetary gift of N30,000 to each of the state’s
returnee, the deputy governor advised them to be creative by
identifying and tapping into the various investment and job
opportunities in the state.

He also pointed to the various funding opportunities by the Bank
of Industry (BOI), urging them to come up with business proposals
to further their areas of specialization.

In their separate remarks, some of the returnees including,
Olakojo Sotunde, Okeleye Oluwaseun, Lawal Bolatito said they are
looking up to the government for startup capital and jobs,
narrating their ordeals that led them to decide to return to the
country unprepared.

Olakojo said, “I would like the government to assist us in any
way they can. We need jobs. I am a graduate of History and
International Relations from LASU. Back in South Africa, I had a
registered business and was doing well until all of a sudden
xenophobia started.

“I have two cars at the car lot that I wanted to sell because I
had the intention to come back home no matter what. I came home two
times last year but when I came, there was really nothing, so I had
to go back.

“I was contemplating on staying back in South Africa or coming
back to Nigeria. Lo and behold, xenophobia started last month and
the whole story changed. I will like the government to assist us in
any way they

can. There are some of us that need jobs. Some other people are
business owners. If you can get us jobs, can set us up in
businesses, we will be glad.”

Similarly, Okeleye said, “It was ups and downs for me in South
Africa. I studied Agriculture and sought a country that was
practised mechanized farming hence the reason I went to South
Africa. We need help. I now have to start again from scratch. The
federal government should interview us per person and know what we
want.

“In South Africa, I see people attacked. Most of their drivers
have guns. They see Nigerians as intelligent, smart and they envy
us; they feel we bully then. Nigerians are everywhere in South
Africa, especially in the medical sector. They suffer an
inferiority complex.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Media, NIDCOM, Mr
Abdulrahman Balogun cautioned Nigerians keen on leaving the country
that the land abroad may not be greener as envisaged.

He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari was scheduled to meet
with South African authorities on the issue of Xenophobia, and that
at least another 400 Nigerians in South Africa had expressed
interest in returning to the country.

Balogun said, “As of last night, over 400 Nigerians have
indicated their interest to return home. The President is concerned
on the issue and would embark on eye to eye diplomacy by leading a
delegation with seven governors, five ministers, special advisers
to meet with his South Africa counterpart. We hope things will be
normal with the meeting.

“If after the discussion, South Africa is ready to make some
concession, those Nigerians may decide to stay back.

“The commission usually tells those who travel out to be a good
representative of the country. As we are having this batch, we have
similar issues in Asia, Saudi Arabia in which we have a sizeable
number of people from this state.

“I am currently working on one calling for our attention. We
usually counsel our young people that there is nothing green in
those places people are going to. You are better off here. With
little assistance,

you can do well rather than go somewhere and be killed, attacked
and cannot move or do business freely. The younger ones should come
together for us to nurture the nation. We have better
opportunities

here in Nigeria.

“We have partnered with some other agencies to assist them,
re-orientate, re-integrate them, and do some form of empowerment to
fully integrate them into the system. And we have profiled them

according to their states and have been reaching out to states.
Of 17 states, Oyo state is first to do formal re-integration for
its citizen.”