The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has stepped in to help 100 Nigerians who were stranded in South Africa, airlifting them back to Lagos on Thursday night. This isn't just the first batch; the church plans to fund the return of a total of 500 citizens facing hardship in the country.
The first flight, carrying 100 returnees, touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, around 8:30 p.m. This initiative received personal approval from the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, after he'd received appeals for assistance for Nigerians needing to come home from South Africa.
Pastor Belemina Obunge, who chairs the RCCG Task Force for the Reception of Nigerian Returnees from South Africa, confirmed that the church covered the flight costs from Johannesburg to Lagos. He also mentioned that government agencies would handle the reception and subsequent movement of these individuals within Nigeria.
More batches of returnees will arrive as the necessary documentation and coordination with South African authorities are completed. Obunge gave a shout-out to the Nigerian diplomatic missions in South Africa for their role in initiating and coordinating this effort with various stakeholders.
Addressing any worries about who gets to come back, Obunge stressed that the selection wasn't based on whether people were members of the RCCG. He explained that the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa is working hand-in-hand with the South African Home Affairs department to identify and document all Nigerians eligible for this repatriation. "Those who go through that process are being brought home," he stated.
The returnees represent a diverse group, including both Muslims and Christians from various religious backgrounds. The church is collaborating with Nigerian government agencies to ensure these individuals are properly received and can travel to their hometowns without hitches.
Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), alongside other relevant government bodies, were on hand at the airport to receive the returnees. Profiling and documentation of the returnees began shortly after their arrival.
Pastor Amos Emoron, Chairman of the RCCG Central Mission Board, who was also part of the task force welcoming the returnees, echoed Obunge's sentiments. He emphasised that the selection process was free from any bias related to religion, tribe, or personal affiliation.
Obunge also appealed to state governments to support their citizens who have returned. He noted that some states have already started assisting their indigenes. He urged others to do the same to help the returnees settle back into society. "We use this opportunity to urge the states and governments to welcome their people home and see what they can do, as some have already started doing, to assist with the effective reintegration of their people into society," he said.