The Federal Government has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declined to meet a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, while strongly condemning the recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The development comes amid growing diplomatic tension between Nigeria and South Africa over renewed reports of attacks on Nigerians and their businesses.
Rather than receiving the delegation personally, President Tinubu directed the South African team, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, to meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
Presidency sources said the South African delegation arrived in Abuja on Friday with a message from President Ramaphosa but without prior notice or a scheduled meeting with Tinubu.
Speaking on the development, a Presidency source said:
“They actually came here on Friday wanting to see the President. But there was no prior notice.
“We said we couldn’t just allow them to see the President without first asking if he was available. When Monday came, the President directed that they should meet the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Enikanolaiye, who would brief him afterwards.”
Another Presidency source said no meeting had been scheduled between the President and the South African delegation.
A third Presidency source disclosed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who was attending official engagements in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, advised that it would be inappropriate for Tinubu to receive the envoy while reports of attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa were still ongoing.
Receiving the South African delegation in Abuja, Ambassador Enikanolaiye said President Tinubu directed the meeting to enable both countries to exchange views on resolving the crisis.
He warned that the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and South Africa should not be undermined by attacks on African migrants.
“It is with profound pleasure that I welcome our brothers from South Africa. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had actually asked us to meet with you and exchange views and perspectives on how to address and resolve the ongoing Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, of which Nigerians and other citizens of Africa have been victims,” he said.
The minister expressed concern over what he described as a recurring pattern of attacks spanning more than three decades.
“We have seen a pattern emerge as early as 1995, 1998, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2026,” he said.
Enikanolaiye disclosed that 98 Nigerians had died in mob violence and hate-related attacks in South Africa since 2022.
“From 2022 alone, 98 Nigerians have died in mob actions and hate-related attacks that we have described as Afrophobia because Africans, particularly Nigerians, are the predominant victims,” he said.
He stressed that while Nigeria would not defend citizens involved in criminal activities, anyone accused of an offence must be treated in accordance with the law and international human rights standards.
“The Nigerian government will not support drug peddlers, but what we are saying is that anyone accused of an offence should be treated in accordance with your constitution, international human rights instruments and the minimum requirements of humanity,” the minister said.
Enikanolaiye added that the attacks had extended beyond undocumented migrants or individuals accused of criminal activities to include Nigerians legally residing and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.
He also expressed concern over allegations that South African police officers sometimes failed to intervene during mob attacks and urged the South African authorities to take urgent and concrete steps to end the violence and ensure the safety of all African nationals living in the country.
