FRI SEPT 04 2026-theGBJournal| The Federal Government has thanked the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for donating $265,854 to support the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa, where recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks have left some Nigerians seeking to return home.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the donation, made by the RCCG led by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, would be used to purchase 500 one-way tickets for Nigerians affected by the attacks.
In a statement signed by Oluwafemi Adeniyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, on Thursday, the government described the contribution as a demonstration of the church’s “compassion, solidarity and genuine commitment” to distressed and stranded Nigerians.
The ministry said the donation also highlighted the role that collaboration between faith-based organisations and public institutions could play 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 said.
The Federal Government began the ongoing evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa on June 10, 2026, following a new wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in the country.
Since the evacuation began, 1,640 Nigerian nationals have been brought back home, with the Federal Government fully sponsoring the return of 1,385 of them.
The evacuation of the remaining 255 Nigerians was sponsored through philanthropic donations, the ministry said.
Currently, 202 Nigerians are awaiting final screening by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs before they can be evacuated to Nigeria.
Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria and Consulate General in Johannesburg remain open and are continuing to reach out through Nigerian community associations and other established channels to assist Nigerians who wish to return home because of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said the Federal Government was also continuing its engagement with South African authorities to address concerns over xenophobia and Afrophobia against Nigerians.
It said the government remained “resolutely committed to promoting the welfare and well-being of Nigerians in the Diaspora”, in line with the 4Ds foreign policy priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The ministry pointed to what it described as the President’s sustained diplomatic efforts, including his statement at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held on August 30, 2026, in Luanda, Angola.
The statement, delivered on the President’s behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, expressed concern over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa and called for urgent collective attention to the situation.
The ministry again thanked the RCCG for its contribution to the evacuation programme and said it welcomed similar partnerships with private organisations, philanthropists, faith-based organisations, development partners and other stakeholders.
Such contributions, it said, could “engender meaningful and lasting positive bearing on Nigerians in the Diaspora.”
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