The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has donated $265,854 to support the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa amid concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks.Africans & Diaspora
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed appreciation to the church for the donation, describing the intervention as a major demonstration of compassion and solidarity with Nigerians facing difficult conditions in South Africa.
The ministry disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Friday.
According to the statement, the donation will fund 500 one-way flight tickets for Nigerians seeking to return home following incidents of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.
The ministry said the gesture by RCCG, led by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, would provide much-needed support for distressed Nigerians who had indicated their willingness to return to the country.
It described the donation as “a significant demonstration of RCCG’s compassion, solidarity and genuine commitment to providing succour to distressed and stranded Nigerians.”
The ministry said the intervention also highlighted the importance of collaboration between faith-based organisations and public institutions 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 statement said.
The Federal Government commenced the ongoing evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa on June 10, 2026, following a fresh wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other foreign nationals in the country.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a total of 1,640 Nigerian nationals have so far been evacuated from South Africa.
The Federal Government fully sponsored the return of 1,385 Nigerians, while the evacuation of the remaining 255 was funded through philanthropic donations.
The ministry said 202 Nigerians were currently awaiting final screening by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs before they could be evacuated to Nigeria.
It added that Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria and Consulate -General in Johannesburg remained open and continued to work with Nigerian community associations and other established channels to assist citizens seeking to return home.
The Federal Government said it would continue engaging South African authorities to address what it described as the recurring problem of xenophobia and Afrophobia against Nigerians.
The ministry also referenced President Bola Tinubu’s intervention 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.
