Oyedepo arrives in Port Harcourt to dedicate Ibiyeomie's 120,000-seat Hand of God Cathedral

Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has arrived in Port Harcourt to lead the dedication of a giant new church auditorium built by Pastor David Ibiyeomie's Salvation Ministries.
The arrival
Oyedepo reportedly landed in Rivers State by private jet on the evening of Thursday, 5 November 2026, and was received by Ibiyeomie and a delegation of ministers. The group then travelled in a motorcade to the cathedral complex, where church leaders welcomed them with cheers. Videos of the arrival have been widely shared online.
The cathedral
The dedication of the Hand of God Cathedral was scheduled for 10am on Friday, 6 November, at the ministry's headquarters on the Port Harcourt International Airport Road in Igwuruta. According to reports, the auditorium can seat up to 120,000 people and covers about 56,000 square metres, with a five-wing design meant to resemble an open hand. Reports have described it as bigger than the 109,000-capacity Ark auditorium built by Oyedepo's church. The church invited worshippers from across Nigeria and beyond to attend.
Background
Ibiyeomie founded Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt and is widely seen as a spiritual son of Oyedepo, which has given the event special meaning for members of both churches. The pastor has been in the news this week over a sermon urging Christians to pay their tithes before spending money on Christmas clothes.
How people reacted
Church members celebrated the occasion online, calling it a historic moment. Others debated the cost of building such large church buildings at a time of economic hardship, while supporters said the project shows what a faith community can achieve.
- The cathedral reportedly seats up to 120,000 people.
- Oyedepo was received by Ibiyeomie on Thursday evening.
- The dedication was set for Friday morning in Igwuruta.
