The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has evacuated home another 105 Nigerians from South Africa, taking the number of distressed citizens evacuated by the church to 205 as part of its response to renewed xenophobic and Afrophobic tensions in the country.
The latest batch, comprising 55 adults, 45 children, and five infants, arrived in Lagos as part of the church’s planned evacuation of 500 Nigerians stranded in South Africa amid renewed concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks.
Their return comes after 100 Nigerians were repatriated from South Africa on Thursday, September 24, owing to a humanitarian intervention by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The intervention followed an appeal from Nigerians in South Africa and the Nigerian High Commission, after which RCCG General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adeboye approved the initiative on humanitarian grounds.
The church has committed $265,265.854 to fund one-way air tickets for the 500 Nigerians targeted under the exercise.
Speaking on the intervention, Chairman of the RCCG Task Force on the Reception of Nigerian Returnees from South Africa and Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Special Duties, Pastor Belemina Obunge, said the initiative was intended to complement the Federal Government’s efforts.
Obunge said the church responded after receiving what he described as an “SOS clarion cry” from Nigerians in South Africa, which was subsequently echoed by the Nigerian High Commission.
“The RCCG is basically a humanitarian contribution towards the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure humanitarian contribution towards the efforts of the Federal Government in making sure that Nigerians who were stranded in South Africa are brought back,” he said.
“There was an SOS clarion cry by Nigerians in South Africa. The High Commission in South Africa echoed it; it reached the ears of the General Overseer, and he, with a heart of compassion, determined that the Church should intervene.
“It was resolved that 500 Nigerians stranded in South Africa should be brought in and airlifted, sponsored by the Church.”
Obunge said the first batch of 100 Nigerians returned the previous week, while the latest 105 returnees constituted the second batch.
He added that about 300 more Nigerians were expected to return after completing the required documentation and clearance procedures.
According to him, the Nigerian High Commission, working with South African authorities, profiles affected Nigerians before their names are forwarded to the relevant authorities for clearance and eventual transportation to Nigeria.
Obunge stressed that the beneficiaries were not selected based on religion or membership of the RCCG.
“Our national anthem says, ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’ We believe in that anthem,” he said.
“Those being brought in are from different tribes, speak different tongues, and practice different religions. They are not all members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. In fact, we don’t even know whether any of them is a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
“They are wonderful Nigerians, and by the grace of God, they are among those to whom we have an assignment.”
The latest evacuation comes amid renewed tensions over the presence of foreign nationals in South Africa and a September 30 deadline reportedly issued by the March and March group for foreigners to leave the country.
The deadline was not an official evacuation order by the South African government but heightened concerns among Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country.
The federal government has also undertaken several evacuation exercises following renewed xenophobic attacks.
By September 26, the government said 1,821 Nigerians had been evacuated through 13 consular evacuations, with 1,388 of them fully funded by the government.
Obunge urged the latest returnees to see their return as an opportunity to rebuild their lives in Nigeria.
“What we are telling them is that they are not forgotten. They should realise that this is a new beginning. God has a plan for them. They should connect with God, and they shouldn’t lose hope,” he said.
He also encouraged them to deploy the skills and experience they acquired abroad towards contributing to Nigeria’s development.
At the reception for the returnees, a representative of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Azeez Afuku, commended RCCG for supporting the government’s evacuation efforts.
Afuku said NEMA and other government agencies had been involved in receiving Nigerians returning from South Africa and described the church’s intervention as a welcome development.
He said the returnees were documented and profiled on arrival to facilitate further government assistance and their reintegration into society.
According to him, NEMA would also coordinate their transportation to their respective state capitals to enable them to reunite with their families.
TVC News Online had in September reported that the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has confirmed the donation of $265,854 to support the evacuation and repatriation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa amid recent xenophobic tensions.
The church disclosed this in a statement shared on its X handle on Saturday, saying the donation was made at the directive of its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
According to the RCCG, the funds are intended to provide immediate relief and facilitate the safe return of vulnerable Nigerian nationals seeking to leave South Africa.
The church said the intervention reflected its commitment to supporting its members and the wider Nigerian community in the diaspora.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
