The Redeemed Christian Church of God has facilitated the return of 107 Nigerians from South Africa as part of a humanitarian initiative to repatriate at least 500 Nigerians stranded in the country.
The first batch arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday night after being flown from Johannesburg.
The repatriation is being funded by the RCCG following an appeal from the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa. Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons were at the airport to receive the returnees and commence their profiling.
NEMA’s Head of Operations, Mohammed Olatunde, said the returnees would be transported to their respective state capitals after the profiling process.
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 the funding on humanitarian grounds.
Obunge explained that the beneficiaries were Nigerians who had been screened and documented by the Nigerian High Commission and South African Home Affairs authorities.
He stressed that the returnees were not selected based on religious affiliation, noting that Muslims, Christians and people of other faiths were among those brought back.
According to him, the RCCG is responsible for the cost of air transportation from Johannesburg to Lagos, while relevant government agencies are handling reception, profiling and onward transportation.
He also appealed to state governments to support the reintegration of returning Nigerians into their communities.
Obunge said the exercise would continue in batches because each returnee must complete the required documentation and clearance procedures before travelling.
He added that the total number expected could exceed 500 slightly because some children and infants were also included in the repatriation exercise.
The RCCG chairman urged Nigerians still stranded in South Africa to approach the Nigerian High Commission for assistance with documentation and the repatriation process.
He commended the Nigerian diplomatic mission, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NEMA, NCFRMI, airport authorities and other agencies involved in the exercise.
The returnees were welcomed by the RCCG team and provided with food packs before being handed over to the appropriate government authorities.
