The Federal Government has commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), for donating $265,854 to facilitate the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
In a statement released in Abuja by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said the donation would be used to purchase 500 one-way air tickets for Nigerians stranded or facing difficult circumstances in the country.
The Ministry described the gesture as a demonstration of RCCG’s compassion, solidarity and commitment to supporting Nigerians affected by the recent wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.
“The donation also underscores the importance of collaboration between faith-based organisations and government institutions in addressing social challenges and promoting the welfare of citizens,” the statement read.
The Federal Government said it appreciates the leadership of RCCG under Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye and looks forward to working with the church’s leadership in South Africa to ensure the funds are properly deployed for the evacuation exercise.
The Ministry recalled that the ongoing evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa commenced on June 10, 2026, following renewed attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals.
According to the Ministry, 1,640 Nigerian nationals have so far been repatriated under the exercise. Of that number, 1,385 were fully sponsored by the Federal Government, while the evacuation of the remaining 255 was funded through philanthropic donations.
It, however, did not clarify whether the 500 Nigerians to be evacuated with RCCG’s donation are part of, or in addition to, the 1,640 already brought back to the country.
