The Federal Government has commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God for donating $265,854 towards the evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
The Punch reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the donation would cover 500 one-way air tickets for Nigerians who wish to return home following xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.
The ministry disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi.
According to the ministry, the intervention by the church, led by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, represents “a significant demonstration of RCCG’s compassion, solidarity and genuine commitment to providing succour to distressed and stranded Nigerians.”
It said the gesture was especially significant for Nigerians “faced with the scourges of Xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa.”
The ministry added, “This gesture further demonstrates the impact that collaboration between faith-based organisations and public institutions can have in addressing social challenges and advancing the common good.
“We are grateful for this partnership and look forward to working with the church’s leadership in South Africa, as the generous donation is deployed to the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians,” the ministry stated.
The Federal Government began evacuating distressed Nigerians from South Africa on June 10, 2026, following a fresh wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other nationals.
So far, 1,640 Nigerian nationals have been repatriated, with the government bearing the full cost of returning 1,385 of them, according to the ministry.
It said philanthropic contributions had been used to facilitate the evacuation of the remaining 255 Nigerians.
The ministry disclosed that 202 Nigerians are currently awaiting final screening by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs before their return to Nigeria.
It noted that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and Consulate General in Johannesburg “remain open as they continue to reach out through Nigerian Community Associations and other established channels, to assist Nigerians who desire to return home as a result of Xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks.”
The government also said it would sustain discussions with South African authorities to tackle the “irritants of Xenophobia and Afrophobia against our citizens.”
The ministry said the Federal Government “remains resolutely committed to promoting the welfare and well-being of Nigerians in the Diaspora,” in accordance with the 4Ds foreign policy priorities of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
It also highlighted President Tinubu’s intervention during the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, on August 30, 2026.
According to the ministry, the President was “unequivocal in expressing concern over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, and calling for urgent collective attention to address the situation.”
The ministry further expressed gratitude to the RCCG and said it “welcomes impactful partnerships with private organisations, philanthropists, faith-based organisations, development partners and other stakeholders whose contributions can engender meaningful and lasting positive bearing on Nigerians in the Diaspora.”
