President Bola Tinubu on Monday declined to receive a special delegation sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, directing the envoys to instead meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
The delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, had arrived in Abuja on Friday with a message from President Ramaphosa amid worsening diplomatic tensions between the two countries following renewed attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
Presidency sources said the delegation initially sought an audience with President Tinubu upon arrival but had not secured prior approval.
One source disclosed that although the delegation was asked to return on Monday after its request was communicated to the President, Tinubu later directed that the meeting be held with Ambassador Enikanolaiye instead.
“They came on Friday wanting to see the President, but there was no prior notice. When Monday came, the President instructed that they should meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who would brief him afterwards,” the source said.
Other Presidency officials confirmed that the President did not have any meeting with the South African delegation on his official schedule.
The decision comes amid a diplomatic row triggered by renewed xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has resulted in the evacuation of nearly 600 Nigerians back home in recent weeks.
Sources also revealed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is attending official engagements in Addis Ababa, advised against the President personally receiving the delegation while attacks on Nigerians and their businesses were still ongoing.
Receiving the South African delegation on behalf of the President, Enikanolaiye said Tinubu had mandated him to engage the visitors on finding lasting solutions to the crisis.
He stressed that the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and South Africa should not be undermined by repeated attacks on African migrants.
“It is with profound pleasure that I welcome our brothers from South Africa. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu asked us to exchange views and perspectives on how to address the ongoing Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, of which Nigerians and other African citizens have been victims,” he said.
The minister lamented the recurring nature of the attacks, 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 been killed in hate-related mob attacks since 2022.
Enikanolaiye recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle and described the violence against Nigerians as inconsistent with the historic ties between both countries.
While affirming Nigeria’s opposition to criminality, he insisted that suspected offenders should be prosecuted through lawful procedures rather than subjected to mob justice.
“The Nigerian government will not support drug peddlers, but anyone accused of committing an offence should be treated in accordance with the law, international human rights instruments and the minimum requirements of humanity,” he said.
He further expressed concern over what he described as the apparent inability or unwillingness of South African security agencies to prevent attacks, saying such situations raised questions about state responsibility.
The minister also recounted the humanitarian consequences of previous xenophobic violence, saying he was moved to tears during the evacuation of nearly 1,500 Nigerians who returned home after losing their homes and businesses.
Responding, Lamola said President Ramaphosa had sent him as a special envoy to reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to combating xenophobia, racism, violence and all forms of discrimination.
He maintained, however, that South Africa would continue to enforce its immigration laws and deal decisively with irregular migration and criminal activities within its borders.
Lamola said migration remained a continental challenge requiring cooperation between African countries, expressing optimism that continued dialogue between Nigeria and South Africa would help ease tensions and strengthen bilateral relations.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply following a fresh wave of xenophobic violence that erupted across several South African provinces in April 2026.
The crisis prompted President Tinubu to approve multiple Air Peace evacuation flights for stranded Nigerians, while the Nigerian government warned that retaliatory diplomatic measures remained under consideration. The House of Representatives also recommended the suspension of business permits for South African companies operating in Nigeria, and the Senate dispatched a delegation to Pretoria to formally convey Nigeria’s displeasure.
Lamola’s visit is believed to be part of President Ramaphosa’s efforts to de-escalate tensions ahead of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on conflict prevention and resolution scheduled to hold in Angola from August 29 to 30, 2026.
