The Federal Government has commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God for donating $265,854 to support the evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
The donation, according to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will cover the cost of 500 one-way air tickets for Nigerians seeking to return home following renewed xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.
The ministry disclosed this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Friday.
It described the intervention by the church, led by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, as a significant demonstration of compassion, solidarity and commitment to supporting Nigerians facing difficult circumstances abroad.
The ministry said the donation was particularly timely given the challenges confronting Nigerians affected by xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa.
It also highlighted the importance of partnerships between faith-based organisations and government institutions in responding to social challenges and providing assistance to vulnerable citizens.
The Federal Government began the ongoing evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa on June 10, 2026, following a fresh wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals.
According to the ministry, 1,640 Nigerians have so far been evacuated to Nigeria, with the Federal Government funding the return of 1,385 of them.
The ministry said the evacuation of the remaining 255 Nigerians had been supported through philanthropic donations.
It added that 202 Nigerians were currently awaiting final screening by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs before their evacuation could be completed.
The ministry said Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria and Consulate General in Johannesburg continued to engage Nigerian Community Associations and other relevant channels to identify and assist Nigerians who wished to return home because of the attacks.
It further stated that the Federal Government would continue discussions with South African authorities to address recurring cases of xenophobia and Afrophobia against Nigerians and other Africans.
The ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora in line with the 4Ds foreign policy priorities of the Bola Tinubu administration.
It also cited 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 expressed appreciation to the RCCG and welcomed further partnerships with private organisations, philanthropists, faith-based organisations, development partners and other stakeholders willing to support Nigerians in distress.
It said such collaborations could make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of Nigerians affected by crises abroad.
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