Omega Power Ministries offers accommodation and schooling to 15 Nigerians displaced by xenophobic violence abroad

At least 15 Nigerians who recently returned from South Africa after losing their businesses and homes to xenophobic attacks have received accommodation, feeding, and welfare support from the Omega Power Ministries (OPM) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The relief efforts were announced on Saturday by OPM founder and cleric, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, following reports of trauma and hardship faced by returnees.

According to Chinyere, many of the affected individuals spent between 15 and 30 years living in South Africa before being forced back home due to violence that destroyed their livelihoods. Upon their return, they found themselves without shelter or means of survival. Moved by their predicament—brought to his attention through a member of OPM’s South African branch—Chinyere decided to intervene by offering free housing in one of the church’s estates as well as enrolling the children of returnees in local schools.

“These people invested everything they had over decades in South Africa. When I heard their stories and realised they came back with nothing, it was clear that leaving them stranded could worsen their trauma or even threaten their lives,” Chinyere stated. He explained that the ministry’s response included not only free accommodation but also regular meals and educational support for children now resident at the OPM estate.

The ongoing crisis has highlighted the challenges many Nigerians face abroad, particularly amid rising cases of xenophobic violence in Southern Africa. For the affected families now resettling in Rivers State, community support is proving vital for recovery. While government has previously coordinated evacuations during periods of unrest overseas, religious organisations like OPM are increasingly stepping up to address reintegration needs at home.

With more Nigerians expected to return from troubled regions abroad, humanitarian groups have called for expanded government intervention to ensure returnees are not left destitute. Stakeholders emphasise that reintegration programmes must address both immediate needs—such as shelter and food—and long-term issues like employment and education.

Source: https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/south-africa-returnees-get-succour-from-opm/