Tinubu Declines Meeting with South African Delegation, Directs Envoys to Foreign Affairs Minister Amid Xenophobia Row
Reported by Fact Harbour News
ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday declined a request to personally receive a special delegation sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, directing the visiting officials to instead meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, amid rising diplomatic tensions over recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
According to multiple Presidency sources familiar with the development, the South African delegation, led by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday and sought an audience with President Tinubu to discuss the growing concerns over attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The sources disclosed that the delegation initially requested to see the President shortly after arriving in Nigeria but had not secured a prior appointment. Following consultations, they were informed that the President could consider receiving them on Monday.
However, when the scheduled day arrived, President Tinubu reportedly instructed that the delegation should instead hold discussions with Ambassador Enikanolaiye, who would subsequently brief him on the outcome of the meeting.
One Presidency source explained that the President considered it appropriate for the matter to be handled through established diplomatic channels before any further engagement at the presidential level.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs received the delegation on behalf of the Federal Government at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, where both sides were expected to discuss the recent attacks on Nigerians, bilateral relations and measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
The diplomatic engagement comes against the backdrop of renewed xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has strained relations between Africa’s two largest economies. The attacks reportedly targeted Nigerians and other foreign African nationals, leading to the evacuation of nearly 600 Nigerian citizens back to Nigeria by the Federal Government.
The incidents have attracted widespread condemnation from Nigerian officials, civil society organisations and members of the public, many of whom have called for stronger diplomatic action to protect the lives and property of Nigerians living in South Africa.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in June 2026 following the elevation of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu to the position of substantive Minister of Foreign Affairs after the departure of Yusuf Tuggar from the cabinet.
Although President Tinubu did not personally receive the South African delegation, diplomatic observers say the meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reflects ongoing engagement between both countries as they seek to address the latest crisis through dialogue.
Neither the Nigerian Presidency nor the South African delegation had issued an official statement on the outcome of Monday’s meeting as of the time of filing this report.
Fact Harbour News will continue to monitor developments and provide verified updates on diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the dispute and ensuring the safety of Nigerians residing in South Africa.