Joe Effiong, Uyo,
Ten Akwa Ibom indigenes who were repatriated from Libya on January 9 and 16 have finally been sent home by the state government after undergoing screening, debriefing, profiling and medicals.
The state deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, whose office took charge of the returnees urged them to quickly settle into meaningful living, integrate themselves into the society and also find ways of making meaningful contributions to the state.
Mr Ekpo noted that today’s Akwa Ibom held more job prospects and business opportunities to people who are willing to use their creative talents positively, adding that it was morally depressing for young people to embark on a misadventure to foreign lands whose economic fortunes were worse than our nation’s.
He used the occasion to call on public-spirited individuals to assist them to settle down by offering them some economic empowerment facilities.
The permanent secretary in the deputy governor’s office, Mr. Nkopuruk Ekaiko who represented the deputy governor, said the occasion was to formally send the returnees to their different communities.
He noted that the event represented one of the last stages of their full reintegration into the society which began with their reception at the Port Harcourt international airport on January 9 and 16, disclosing that they had successfully gone through the process of de-briefing, screening and profiling as well as thorough medical treatments courtesy of the state government.
The permanent secretary further noted that as a responsive and responsible government, the state indigenes have also been presented with relief materials such as blankets/clothing, toiletries, mosquito nets and other essential items while one of the returnees who is a seamstress was presented with a sewing machine.
However, one of the female returnees who came back sick, is still receiving medical attention at the hospital.