South African Returnees Arrive at OPM Estate in Port Harcourt, Receive Shelter, Medical Care and Educational Support
By Rita Onuoha
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
More Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks have arrived at the Omega Power Ministry (OPM) Free Estate in Port Harcourt, where they are being provided with accommodation, healthcare, food and educational support.
The development was disclosed by the Founder and General Overseer of Omega Power Ministry (OPM), Chief Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, in a post shared on his official Facebook page.
According to the cleric, the returnees, who arrived in Nigeria on June 12, were welcomed at the OPM Headquarters before being taken on a tour of a newly acquired estate currently undergoing renovation specifically for Nigerians returning from South Africa.
Pending the completion of the renovation works, the families have been temporarily accommodated in one of OPM's 18 free housing estates.
Chief Apostle Chinyere revealed that many of the returnees arrived with heartbreaking experiences, including families who lost loved ones during the xenophobic violence. He also noted that some had lived in South Africa for as long as 14 years without returning to Nigeria and currently have no homes to return to.
As part of the ministry's humanitarian intervention, the returnees were taken to the OPM Free Hospital for comprehensive medical examinations after concerns were raised about their health conditions. Some medical issues were reportedly identified, with further treatment and follow-up consultations scheduled.
The ministry also provided meals for the returnees through its free restaurant located within the OPM Free Hospital, which primarily serves patients.
In addition, each family received food items and household essentials, including bags of rice, beverages, cooking pots, plates and soup ingredients, to help them settle into their temporary accommodation.
Chief Apostle Chinyere further announced that although he initially planned to provide one meal daily, the ministry would instead provide three meals a day in consideration of the children among the returnees.
Preparations have also been concluded for the education of school-age children, with tailors already taking measurements for school uniforms ahead of their resumption at one of the ministry's 43 free schools on Monday.
The OPM founder stated that the accommodation, healthcare, feeding, educational support and welfare packages are being provided free of charge and fully funded by the ministry as part of its humanitarian outreach to vulnerable Nigerians returning from South Africa.
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