Tinubu Declines Meeting With South African Envoy Over Xenophobic Attacks On Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu on Monday declined to personally receive a special delegation sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, directing the team to meet instead 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 travelled to Abuja to deliver Ramaphosa’s message amid rising diplomatic tensions caused by renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking after the meeting, Enikanolaiye said President Tinubu instructed him to engage the delegation on ways to end the attacks, stressing that the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and South Africa should not be undermined by violence against African migrants.

He lamented the repeated attacks on Nigerians, noting that similar incidents had occurred over the years and revealing that 98 Nigerians have died in hate-related attacks since 2022. He also recalled the painful evacuation of nearly 1,500 Nigerians, many of whom returned home after losing their businesses and properties.

While reaffirming that Nigeria does not support criminal activities, Enikanolaiye insisted that anyone accused of crimes should face due process rather than mob justice, expressing concern over what he described as the inability of South African authorities to stop the violence.

In response, Ronald Lamola said President Ramaphosa strongly opposes xenophobia, racism and all forms of discrimination, but maintained that South Africa would continue enforcing its immigration laws and tackling criminality. He added that migration is a shared African challenge requiring cooperation between both countries.

The visit is seen as an effort by South Africa to ease diplomatic tensions and strengthen dialogue before the upcoming African Union summit in Angola.