The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has donated $265,854 to support the evacuation of 500 Nigerians seeking to return home from South Africa following xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in the country.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed appreciation to the church for the donation, describing it as a demonstration of compassion and commitment to the welfare of Nigerians in distress.
This was disclosed in a statement signed on Friday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi.
According to the ministry, the donation will fund 500 one-way tickets for Nigerians seeking to return home from South Africa.
The ministry described the gesture as a significant demonstration of the RCCG’s compassion, solidarity and commitment to providing succour to distressed and stranded Nigerians.
It said the donation was particularly important for Nigerians facing xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa.
The ministry added that the gesture demonstrated the impact of collaboration between faith-based organisations and public institutions in addressing 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 commenced the evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa on June 10, 2026, following a fresh wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks on Africans and other nationals in the country.
The ministry said 1,640 Nigerians had so far been brought back home, with the Federal Government fully sponsoring the return of 1,385.
It said the evacuation of the remaining 255 Nigerians was sponsored through philanthropic donations.
Currently, 202 Nigerians are awaiting final screening by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs before they are evacuated to Nigeria.
The ministry also said Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria and Consulate General in Johannesburg remained engaged with Nigerian Community Associations and other established channels to assist Nigerians who wish to return home as a result of the attacks.
It added that the government would continue engaging South African authorities to address xenophobia and Afrophobia against Nigerians.
The ministry said the Federal Government remained committed to promoting the welfare and well-being of Nigerians in the Diaspora, in line with the 4Ds foreign policy priorities of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
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.
According to the ministry, Tinubu expressed concern over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa and called for urgent collective action to address the situation.
The ministry further appreciated the RCCG and other private organisations, philanthropists, faith-based organisations and development partners whose contributions support efforts to protect and assist Nigerians in the Diaspora.
