Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Temitope Ajayi, has called on religious leaders, faith-based organisations and other public-spirited Nigerians to support the evacuation of citizens affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Ajayi made the appeal while briefing Nigerian media executives on the security situation involving Nigerians in the country, stressing that more assistance was needed to bring distressed citizens home.

He specifically urged prominent religious leaders and organisations, including the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Jerry Eze and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, to intervene in the evacuation and welfare of Nigerians seeking to leave South Africa.

“We implore them to help us. We appeal to public-spirited individuals to support the evacuation and welfare of our nationals who have been affected,” Ajayi said.

His appeal came days after the Federal Government disclosed that the RCCG, led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, had donated $265,854 to fund 500 one-way air tickets for distressed Nigerians seeking to return home from South Africa.

The donation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would be deployed in partnership with the church’s leadership in South Africa.

The latest intervention builds on an evacuation programme launched by the Federal Government on June 10 following a fresh wave of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans and other foreign nationals in South Africa.

Ajayi said some Nigerians had been forced to abandon their homes and businesses when the attacks reached their peak in July, leaving many victims in need of urgent assistance.

“When the problem was at its peak in July, some of our nationals had to leave their properties behind,” he said.

He noted that Nigerians were resident across all nine provinces of South Africa, making the situation a broad national concern that required coordinated intervention from government, religious bodies, community organisations and other stakeholders.

The envoy said the South African authorities had deployed security personnel to affected areas, while the Nigerian diplomatic mission had continued discussions with relevant authorities on measures to protect Nigerians.

He also disclosed that the Nigerian and South African governments had identified measures to prevent further attacks, prosecute perpetrators and address losses suffered by victims.

According to Ajayi, one of the key areas of understanding was the establishment of preventive mechanisms that would provide safeguards for Nigerians and other foreign nationals.

“The first is a preventive mechanism that will provide safeguard measures for our people,” he said.

He added that authorities were also pursuing the prosecution of offenders, stressing that those responsible for attacks must be held accountable.

The Nigerian mission, he said, was compiling the names and details of citizens affected by the violence as part of efforts to establish the extent of the losses and facilitate appropriate assistance and compensation.

“We are compiling the names and numbers of Nigerians that are affected by the attacks,” Ajayi said.

He therefore urged religious leaders and other influential Nigerians to emulate the RCCG’s intervention and provide support for citizens who remain distressed or stranded.

He said the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg remained engaged with Nigerian community associations and other channels to identify citizens requiring assistance and facilitate their return.

The envoy also called for sustained diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Pretoria to tackle the recurring attacks and prevent further escalation.

He stressed that protecting Nigerians abroad required collaboration among governments, religious organisations, community leaders and civil society groups, particularly as some victims had lost homes, businesses and other property.

Nigeria, he said, remained committed to safeguarding its citizens while pursuing a lasting solution to xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa.