Abandoned Abroad, Rescued at Home: South African Returnees Find Hope in OPM as FG Steps In

By Passman Akpos

Port Harcourt, Rivers State – The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced an assessment of Nigerian returnees recently evacuated from South Africa, following a visit by a government delegation to the Omega Power Ministry (OPM) Free Estates in Port Harcourt, where many of the returnees are currently being accommodated.

According to the General Overseer of OPM, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, the delegation arrived on Sunday and was led by the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS). The officials reportedly visited the returnees, collected their personal data, and inspected their living conditions within one of the OPM Free Estates.

The delegation also visited some of the returnees receiving medical care at the OPM Free Hospital, where they gathered information on their health status and ongoing treatments.

Speaking on the development, Chinyere disclosed that the visiting officials requested that photographs not be taken during the exercise.

The visit comes days after OPM announced the arrival of several Nigerian returnees from South Africa, many of whom reportedly arrived with heartbreaking stories of hardship, displacement, and years of separation from their homeland.

According to OPM, some of the returnees lost family members while abroad, while others had spent as many as 14 years outside Nigeria without returning home. Many reportedly returned with little or no property or means of livelihood.

In response to their plight, OPM has continued to provide accommodation, healthcare, feeding, and educational support for the affected families.

Chinyere revealed that although he initially promised to provide one meal daily for the returnees, the ministry has increased feeding arrangements to three meals per day due to the presence of children among the beneficiaries.

He further announced that all school-age children of the returnees have now been enrolled in OPM’s free educational programme.

“By the grace of God, the children started attending one of our OPM Free Schools today, Monday, June 15, 2026,” he said.

The children are being transported to and from school daily through the OPM Free School Bus system. The ministry currently operates 43 free schools comprising both primary and secondary institutions.

The latest intervention builds on earlier support packages already provided to the returnees, including temporary accommodation in OPM Free Estates, comprehensive medical examinations at OPM Free Hospital, food supplies, cooking utensils, and other household essentials.

Chinyere, who is currently outside Port Harcourt, stated that he plans to personally visit the families upon his return and present gifts he recently purchased during a trip to Egypt.

He emphasized that all assistance being provided to the South African returnees is being financed through tithes and offerings from members of Omega Power Ministry.

The humanitarian effort has continued to attract attention from government agencies and members of the public, with many describing the intervention as a significant support system for vulnerable Nigerians returning from difficult circumstances abroad.