RismadarVoice Reporters
September 25, 2026
The Redeemed Christian Church of God has begun funding the repatriation of at least 500 Nigerians from South Africa following an appeal from Nigerian diplomatic officials over citizens seeking to return home.
RismadarVoice reported that the first batch of 100 returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday night, marking the commencement of the church-backed humanitarian exercise.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and other relevant agencies received the returnees before commencing profiling and documentation.
A NEMA official said those received would be transported to their respective state capitals after completing the profiling exercise.
Chairman of the RCCG Task Force for the Reception of Nigerian Returnees from South Africa, Pastor Belemina Obunge, said the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, approved funding for the air transportation on humanitarian grounds.
According to Obunge, the intervention followed an appeal from the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa concerning Nigerians who needed assistance to return home.
“Moved by compassion for Nigerians who were required to return home from South Africa, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, approved the funding of the air transportation of 500 Nigerians from Johannesburg to Lagos,” he said.
He added that the first 100 returnees represented the initial batch, with additional flights expected to bring more Nigerians home.
Obunge explained that the beneficiaries had been profiled and documented by Nigerian diplomatic officials in collaboration with South African Home Affairs authorities before being cleared for the exercise.
He stressed that selection was not based on membership of the RCCG or religious affiliation, saying Christians, Muslims and Nigerians of other backgrounds were among those being assisted.
“They are Nigerians who, by reason of the situation we are all aware of, need to come back home,” he said.
Obunge said the Nigerian High Commission and South African authorities were responsible for profiling and documentation, while the church received the list of those cleared for repatriation.
He explained that RCCG’s responsibility was primarily to fund air transportation from Johannesburg to Lagos, with Nigerian government agencies handling reception, processing and onward transportation.
“The church task force is here to welcome them upon arrival. We shall be offering prayers, we shall be encouraging them, and we shall support their orderly handover to the appropriate government agencies,” he said.
Obunge said the intervention followed an appeal from the Nigerian Consulate and Nigerians who required assistance to leave South Africa.
He added that the exercise would cover a minimum of 500 people, although the final number could exceed that figure because children and infants were also expected among the returnees.
“We are aware it may be slightly more than 500, maybe 10, 20 more than 500 because some infants are coming in, some children are coming in. But it’s 500 minimum,” he said.
