Church donates $20,000 to Republic of Vanuatu

oge okonkwo

June 22, 2015 12:59 PM

RCCG in a statement said said that a temporary residence was being used as the State House after the original was destroyed by Cyclone Uma in 1987

Redeemed Christian Church Of God logo

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) revealed that it has donated $20,000 to island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, the Republic of Vanuatu for the renovation of the dilapidated State House.

The church in a statement said said that a temporary residence was being used as the State House after the original was destroyed by Cyclone Uma in 1987.

The statement read in part, “Receiving the donation, the Head of State of the Republic of Vanuatu, Baldwin Jackson Lonsdale, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Redeemed Christian Church of God for being one of the very first organisations to respond to the office’s appeal.

“The RCCG Nigeria delegation was led by Pastor Peter and was received by President Lonsdale and the staff of the State Office. The French Embassy in Vanuatu has also contributed Vt500,000 towards the renovation works.”

Punch reports that according to the statement, the recent heavy rainfall experienced in the island has forced the already deteriorated state office to close its doors as appeals were sent to business organisations, donor partners and interested parties to help fund the renovation of the office.

It added that the high office confirmed that the money had been deposited at the finance department to ensure that there was accountability and transparency for all the funds coming in towards the renovation project.

Lonsdale was quoted as saying that one of the most important priorities that needed urgent attention was the construction of a presidential house.

“The conditions of the current presidential residence is deteriorating so much that we have to be accommodated in a rented premises. Our office is being housed in one of the colonial residential premises; and 35 years on since independence, we are still without a presidential palace,” he said.

oge okonkwo