Nigeria Thanks RCCG For South Africa Evacuation Aid

The Nigerian government has thanked the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for a $265,854 donation that funded 500 one-way tickets for distressed Nigerians fleeing xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.

In a press release signed by spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the gesture from RCCG, led by Pastor Enoch Adeyare Adeboye, as proof that faith-based organisations can meaningfully complement government efforts in tackling social crises abroad.

The evacuation exercise, launched on June 10 2026, after a fresh wave of attacks on Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa, has so far brought home 1,640 Nigerians. Of that number, the government fully sponsored 1,385 returnees, while philanthropic donations, including RCCG’s contribution, covered the remaining 255.

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Another 202 Nigerians are currently awaiting final clearance from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs before they can be flown back, with Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria and Consulate General in Johannesburg still actively coordinating with community associations to reach citizens who wish to return.

The Ministry linked the evacuation drive to President Bola Tinubu’s “4Ds” foreign policy agenda, noting that Vice President Kashim Shettima reinforced Nigeria’s concerns over the attacks during the African Union’s 21st Extraordinary Summit in Luanda, Angola, on 30 August 2026.

Abuja says it remains open to further partnerships with philanthropists, private organisations, and development partners to sustain support for Nigerians in the diaspora affected by the ongoing unrest in South Africa.

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Tope Oke

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