The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has financed one-way air tickets for 318 Nigerians returning from South Africa under an arrangement to assist 500 distressed citizens, as the Federal Government continues its evacuation programme amid concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks.
The church provided $265,854 for the initiative, leaving 182 Nigerians yet to benefit from the funding commitment, according to details reported by Vanguard.
The latest evacuation brought 111 Nigerians to Lagos on Thursday, October 8, aboard South African Airways flight SA060. The group consisted of 44 men, 23 women and 44 children, taking the total number of returnees under the exercise to 2,037.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the arrival through its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi. Officials from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received the returnees.
The programme, which began on June 10, 2026, has recorded 15 consular evacuation operations. The Federal Government has fully covered the repatriation costs of 1,388 of the 2,037 Nigerians returned so far. It commended RCCG and its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, for supporting the exercise.
The ministry also said it would continue engaging South African authorities and other stakeholders to address xenophobia and Afrophobia. Nigerians remaining in the country were advised to exercise caution, obey local laws and seek consular assistance through Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg.
