The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), led by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has donated $265,854 to support the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa, with the Federal Government expressing gratitude for the intervention on Friday, September 4, 2026.
The contribution will fund 500 one-way air tickets for Nigerians seeking to return home amid renewed concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.
Also read: RCCG overseer urges Nigerians not to pressure Adeboye to criticise Tinubu
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the RCCG donation as a significant demonstration of compassion and solidarity towards Nigerians facing difficult circumstances abroad.
In a statement signed by ministry spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the government said the intervention showed the potential impact of cooperation between faith-based organisations and public institutions in responding to humanitarian challenges.
“The Ministry regards this 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 donation comes as Nigeria continues an organised evacuation programme that began on June 10, 2026, following a new wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks involving Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, 1,640 Nigerians have so far been brought back to Nigeria through the ongoing exercise.
The Federal Government has financed the return of 1,385 people, while philanthropic support has covered the evacuation of another 255 Nigerians.
The new RCCG contribution is expected to provide funding for a further 500 one-way tickets.
The ministry said 202 Nigerians were still awaiting final screening by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs before they could return to Nigeria.
Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in South Africa remain involved in the operation.
The High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg are working with Nigerian community associations and other established channels to identify and assist citizens who wish to leave because of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks.
The latest RCCG donation therefore comes at a critical point in the evacuation effort, providing additional resources as Nigerian officials continue to work through outstanding cases.
The Federal Government has also maintained diplomatic engagement with South African authorities over the treatment of Nigerians and the recurring concerns surrounding xenophobia and Afrophobia.
The ministry linked the response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s wider foreign policy priorities, particularly the administration’s stated commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians living abroad.
Tinubu also raised concerns over the issue during the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, on August 30.
The ministry said the President was unequivocal in calling attention to recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa and urging urgent collective action to address the problem.
The evacuation programme has unfolded against a wider period of heightened migration and repatriation activity in South Africa.
Thousands of foreign nationals have been affected by intensified immigration enforcement and voluntary repatriation efforts during 2026, although those wider movements involve nationals from several countries and should not be conflated with Nigeria’s specific evacuation operation.
For Nigerian nationals seeking to leave, however, the immediate concern remains safety and the practical challenge of securing a route home.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the RCCG donation would be deployed in coordination with the church’s leadership in South Africa to facilitate the purchase of the 500 tickets.
The government also welcomed further contributions from private organisations, philanthropists, faith-based groups and development partners, saying such partnerships could have a meaningful and lasting impact on Nigerians facing hardship overseas.
The intervention from the RCCG adds a powerful humanitarian dimension to the government’s continuing response.
Beyond the figures involved, the $265,854 contribution represents a direct effort to help hundreds of Nigerians who have chosen to leave South Africa amid concerns about their safety and security.
Also read: RCCG overseer urges Nigerians not to pressure Adeboye to criticise Tinubu
As the government continues its diplomatic engagement with South African authorities, the evacuation programme remains focused on bringing eligible Nigerians home while addressing the wider tensions that have made the return necessary.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
