Adeboye Welcomes 105 Nigerians Repatriated From South Africa

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has welcomed Nigerians recently repatriated from South Africa under the church’s humanitarian intervention.

Adeboye, in a post on X on Friday, expressed gratitude to God for their safe journey, said 105 Nigerians had safely returned from South Africa. He wrote, “Welcome home beloved 105 citizens of Nigeria who have just safely arrived from South Africa.”

The development followed the arrival of the first batch of Nigerians whose air transportation from Johannesburg to Lagos is being financed by the RCCG.

A total of 107 Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday night.

The returnees are the first batch of at least 500 Nigerians expected to be brought back to the country under the humanitarian intervention.

The initiative followed an appeal by the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa for assistance in facilitating the return of stranded Nigerians.

Adeboye said the church would continue to pray for the returnees while relevant government agencies complete the processes required to reunite them with their families.

He added, “We are grateful to God for helping us make your safe return possible. We shall continue to pray for you as the Government continues with what remains to ensure you reunite with your families. God bless you all.”

The chairman of the RCCG Task Force for the Reception of Nigerian Returnees from South Africa, Pastor Belemina Obunge, had earlier disclosed that Adeboye approved the funding for the returnees’ air transportation on humanitarian grounds.

Obunge said the beneficiaries were Nigerians who had been profiled and documented by the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa and the South African Home Affairs authorities.

He stressed that the returnees were not selected based on their affiliation with the RCCG, noting that Nigerians from different religious backgrounds were included in the exercise.

“They are Muslims, Christians, all religions. And we are intentional in making sure that we have collaborated with the various government agencies,” he said.

While the RCCG is responsible for funding the air transportation from Johannesburg to Lagos, government agencies are handling the reception of the returnees and their onward movement to their respective destinations.

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons were among those who received the returnees at the airport.

Following their arrival, the returnees underwent profiling as part of the process for their onward transportation to their respective state capitals.

Obunge explained that the repatriation exercise would be conducted in batches because of the documentation and clearance procedures required by South African authorities.

He also appealed to Nigerians still stranded in South Africa to contact the Nigerian diplomatic mission for assistance with the necessary documentation to facilitate their return.