Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye (first on the left) Nigeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode (last on the right) and other officials who received the delegation
President Bola Tinubu on Monday declined to meet a special delegation from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, directing the visiting envoys to engage instead with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
Presidency sources confirmed that the delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, had sought an audience with Tinubu after arriving in Abuja on Friday.
According to the sources, the delegation arrived without prior notice and was initially informed that the President would need to approve any meeting.
“They actually came here on Friday wanting to see the President. But there was no prior notice,” a Presidency official said.
“We couldn’t allow them to see the President without first confirming his availability. He initially indicated they could return on Monday, but later directed them to meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who would brief him after the discussions.”
Another Presidency source confirmed that Tinubu would not receive the delegation, while a third official said no such meeting appeared on the President’s schedule.
The South African delegation reportedly remained in Abuja throughout the weekend after arriving on July 24 with a message from President Ramaphosa.
Sources also disclosed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is attending official engagements in Addis Ababa, advised that it was not the appropriate time for Tinubu to personally receive the delegation while attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa were still ongoing.
Nigeria Demands End to Afrophobic Attacks
Welcoming the delegation in Abuja, Enikanolaiye said President Tinubu mandated him to engage the South African envoys on finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
“It is with profound pleasure that I welcome our brothers from South Africa. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu asked us to meet with you and exchange views on how to address and resolve the ongoing Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, of which Nigerians and other African nationals have been victims,” he said.
The minister lamented the recurring attacks on Nigerians, noting that similar incidents had occurred in 1995, 1998, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2026.
According to him, at least 98 Nigerians have died in mob and hate-related attacks since 2022.
Enikanolaiye also recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, describing the violence against African migrants as inconsistent with the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
He stressed that while Nigeria does not condone criminality, anyone accused of committing offences should be subjected to due process rather than mob justice.
“If someone is accused of drug trafficking or any other offence, there are established legal procedures for arrest, prosecution and punishment. The Nigerian government does not support criminality, but such individuals must be treated in accordance with the South African Constitution, international human rights standards and the basic principles of humanity,” he said.
The minister argued that the attacks had extended beyond suspected criminals, saying many Nigerians legally residing in South Africa had also been targeted.
He further expressed concern over reported instances in which security agencies appeared unable or unwilling to stop mob attacks, saying the situation raised questions about state responsibility.
Enikanolaiye described the humanitarian impact of the violence as severe, recalling that thousands of Nigerians had sought evacuation from South Africa in recent weeks.
He expressed optimism that the Abuja meeting would strengthen bilateral engagement and pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the crisis through sustained dialogue.
Relations between Nigeria and South Africa have come under renewed strain following a wave of xenophobic attacks that began in April 2026 across several South African provinces. The violence prompted the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerians, while the Federal Government warned that retaliatory diplomatic measures remained an option. The House of Representatives also recommended suspending business permits issued to South African companies operating in Nigeria, while the Senate dispatched a delegation to Pretoria to convey Nigeria’s concerns over the attacks.
