About 107 Nigerians fleeing from xenophobic attacks in South Africa, on Thursday night arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Their flight was sponsored by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG.
They were the first batch of 500 Nigerians whose air transportation from Johannesburg to Lagos 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, among other relevant agencies, received the returnees at the airport, after which profiling commenced.
The Head of Operations, NEMA, Mohammed Olatunde, said the returnees would be transported to their respective state capitals after the profiling exercise had been completed.
Addressing journalists shortly before the arrival, the Chairman, RCCG Task Force for the Reception of Nigerian Returnees from South Africa, Pastor Belemina Obunge, said the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, approved the funding for the repatriation on humanitarian grounds.
Obunge said the returnees were Nigerians who had been profiled and documented by the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa and the South African Home Affairs authorities.
He said, “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.
“This first batch marks the commencement of that humanitarian intervention, with additional batches expected to follow.”
Obunge said the returnees were not selected based on their membership of the RCCG, stressing that Nigerians of different faiths were included. “They are Nigerians who, by reason of the situation we are all aware of, need to come back home,” he said.
“The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa is working with Home Affairs there in South Africa, doing the profiling and documentation. Those that go through that process are being brought home.
“We have been given a list from them and definitely, it won’t be surprising if some are members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, but they are all unique, glorious Nigerians.”
He added, “They are Muslims, Christians, all religions. And we are intentional in making sure that we have collaborated with the various government agencies.”
Obunge explained that the church’s intervention covered the cost of air transportation from Johannesburg to Lagos, while government agencies would handle the reception and onward movement of the returnees.
“Permit me to remind us that RCCG’s intervention covers the funding of the returnees, their air transportation from Johannesburg to Lagos. 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.
He said the relevant government agencies were expected to coordinate the returnees’ reception, processing and movement to their respective destinations, while urging state governments to support the reintegration of their citizens.
“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 the society,” he said.
Obunge said the intervention followed an appeal from the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa.
“There was an appeal from South Africa, an appeal from the consulate. An appeal was made and by the grace of God our father in the Lord had acted upon that appeal because it was an appeal by the people there, an appeal by the Nigerians that were also stranded in South Africa”, he said.
He urged other religious organisations to support Nigerians facing similar difficulties in other countries.
“We are encouraging other religious organisations to take cue. As you rightly said, other nations have similar challenges. We have set an example with South Africa,” he said.
Obunge said the RCCG expected at least 500 Nigerians to be repatriated, although the number could be slightly higher because children and infants were also among those being brought home.
“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, maybe 10, 20 more,” he said.
He explained that the returnees would be brought back in batches because of the documentation and clearance process.
“There is a process in South Africa. The process requires they are being cleared by the High Commission and they are being cleared by Home Affairs. A lot of documentation has to be done. Once the next batch is ready, we shall be so informed and they shall be brought back home.”
Obunge urged Nigerians still stranded in South Africa to approach the Nigerian diplomatic mission for assistance with their documentation.
“We urge all Nigerians that are stranded there to do what their colleagues are doing. Go to the embassy. Go to the High Commission. They are more than willing to do what they need to do to make sure that the suffering of Nigerians comes to an end,” he said.
He commended the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Emergency Management Agency, airport authorities and other stakeholders involved in the exercise.
He said the RCCG would continue to welcome and encourage the returnees as they began a new chapter in their lives. “Their return is not the end of their journey, but it is the beginning of a new chapter,” Obunge said.
The returnees were subsequently handed food packs by the RCCG team.
Pastors Amos Emovon, Patrick Uponi, Kate Ojo and Lanre Aiyedun also joined the RCCG team to welcome the returnees.
