The Federal Government has commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for donating $265,854 to support the evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the donation would fund 500 one-way air tickets for Nigerians seeking to return home amid xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in the country.
The ministry disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Friday.
It described the gesture by the church, led by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, as “a significant demonstration of RCCG’s compassion, solidarity and genuine commitment to providing succour to distressed and stranded Nigerians.”
The ministry said the donation was particularly significant for Nigerians affected by xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa, adding that the partnership demonstrated how faith-based organisations and public institutions could work together to address social challenges.
“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 said.
The Federal Government began the ongoing evacuation exercise on June 10, 2026, following a fresh wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa.
According to the ministry, 1,640 Nigerians have so far been repatriated, with the government fully funding the return of 1,385.
It said the evacuation of the remaining 255 Nigerians was made possible through philanthropic donations, while 202 Nigerians are currently awaiting final screening by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs before their return.
The ministry said Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria and Consulate General in Johannesburg remained engaged with Nigerian community associations and other established channels to assist citizens who wished to return home because of the attacks.
It also said the government would continue discussions with South African authorities to address the recurring cases of xenophobia and Afrophobia against Nigerians.
The ministry linked the efforts to the 4Ds foreign policy priorities of the President Bola Tinubu administration, stressing the government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians living abroad.
It also recalled President Tinubu’s intervention at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, on August 30, 2026, where he expressed concern over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa and called for urgent collective action.
The ministry further expressed appreciation to the RCCG and encouraged continued partnerships with private organisations, philanthropists, faith-based groups and development partners to improve the welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora.
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