Xenophobia: Gov. Mbah Welcomes 112 Enugu Returnees from South Africa, Releases ₦77m Support.

Governor urges returnees to rebuild their lives in Enugu as state begins reintegration support.

 

Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform | September 18, 2026.

ENUGU — Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has welcomed 112 indigenes of the state who returned from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks, assuring them of the state government’s support as they rebuild their lives in Enugu.

The returnees, comprising 77 families, were received at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, where the state government announced a ₦1 million seed support for each family, amounting to ₦77 million.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Mbah said the administration understood the difficulties faced by returnees who may have been forced to leave behind businesses, properties, investments, friendships and years of work.

While condemning renewed hostility against black African migrants in parts of South Africa, the Governor encouraged the returnees not to lose hope or be afraid to begin again.

He described the ₦1 million intervention as a seed fund rather than compensation, designed to provide an initial platform for the affected families to rebuild and reintegrate into the Enugu economy.

The Governor also urged the returnees to bring home the skills, entrepreneurial experience, networks, ideas and knowledge acquired during their years in South Africa and deploy them toward building sustainable livelihoods in Enugu.

According to him, the state is creating opportunities across sectors including agriculture, tourism, technology, enterprise, industry, education, healthcare and infrastructure, which could support the returnees’ reintegration.

Governor Mbah further disclosed that the state government, in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), was profiling about 42 additional returnee families for possible inclusion in the reintegration process.

Responding on behalf of the returnees, Chidimma Ogbonna expressed appreciation to the Governor for the reception and financial support, saying the gesture had restored their hope and sense of belonging.

Another returnee, Cosmas Okwor, similarly expressed gratitude, saying the returnees now felt accepted and hopeful about starting afresh in their home state.

The returnees also expressed optimism about resettling in Enugu, citing developments in infrastructure and security as factors that could facilitate their reintegration.

The Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, urged the returnees to remain resilient, pick up the pieces and take advantage of new opportunities available to them.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora, Barr. Olangwa Ezekwu, commended the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM for their roles in facilitating the safe return of affected Nigerians.

Barr. Olangwa Ezekwu: Enugu Has Not Forgotten Her Children Abroad
In an emotional and reassuring address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora Matters, Barr. Mrs. Olangwa Ezekwu, amplified the state’s commitment to its citizens in the Diaspora.
Barr. Ezekwu said the trauma of returning home under forced circumstances could not be quantified, but the Mbah administration was determined to ensure that no Enugu son or daughter feels abandoned.
Her speech in full:
“My dear brothers and sisters, welcome home. Nnoo! You have come back alive, and for that we thank God. I know this is not the homecoming you planned. Many of you left Enugu with dreams, built businesses, built families, built years of labour in South Africa. To be forced back home by fear, by xenophobia, is painful. His Excellency, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, understands this pain deeply.
That is why he directed my office, working with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), to ensure your profiling, your reception, and your reintegration is done with dignity.
As we speak, we are still profiling about 42 additional Enugu families expected to return from South Africa, and we will not stop until every Enugu returnee is accounted for, supported and settled.
This ₦1 million seed fund is just the beginning — a seed, not the harvest. The Governor has asked us to link you to skills programs, SME support through the Enugu SME Center, health insurance, and the new Smart Green Schools for your children.
Do not be ashamed to start again. Enugu is your home. You are not strangers. You are our people, and this government will stand with you every step of the way until you rebuild bigger than what was left behind.” 
She thanked Governor Mbah for his humane intervention and commended NIDCOM for its collaboration.
The Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, also urged the returnees to position themselves to win, noting that new opportunities beckon in the state.
Returnees, in their response, said: “We feel at home.”

The reception marked a significant step toward supporting the affected families as they transition from an unexpected return to rebuilding their livelihoods and contributing to the development of their home state.

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