Nigeria Receives South African Envoy After Tinubu Declines Direct Meeting
The Federal Government on Monday strongly condemned recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, as a special envoy from Pretoria met Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs following President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to receive the delegation personally.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, led the delegation that arrived in Abuja on Friday with a message from President Cyril Ramaphosa. Presidency sources confirmed that Tinubu directed the visitors to meet Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who would brief him afterwards. Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, currently in Addis Ababa, had advised that the timing was inappropriate while attacks continued.
Receiving the delegation, Enikanolaiye expressed profound disappointment at the persistent pattern of violence dating back more than three decades, citing incidents in 1995, 1998, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2026. He noted that from 2022 alone, 98 Nigerians had died in mob actions and hate-related attacks that Nigeria describes as Afrophobia.
The minister recalled Nigeria’s historical support for South Africa’s liberation from apartheid and the subsequent strategic partnership forged through the African Union and NEPAD. He stressed that the long-standing relationship should not be undermined by violence against African migrants. While affirming that Nigeria does not condone criminality, Enikanolaiye insisted that anyone accused of an offence must be treated in accordance with South Africa’s constitution, international human rights instruments and basic standards of humanity rather than subjected to mob justice.
He expressed particular concern over attacks on Nigerians with legitimate residency and instances in which security agencies allegedly failed to intervene, raising questions of state responsibility and possible complicity. Enikanolaiye also recalled the humanitarian impact of previous violence, noting that Nigeria had evacuated nearly 1,500 citizens, many of whom returned with almost nothing after their properties were looted or destroyed.
Responding, Lamola said President Ramaphosa had sent him to reaffirm South Africa’s opposition to xenophobia and all forms of intolerance. He maintained, however, that South Africa retains the sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and deal decisively with irregular migration, undocumented immigrants and criminality. Lamola framed migration as a continental challenge requiring joint African action and expressed optimism that continued dialogue would ease current tensions.
Relations between Africa’s two largest economies have deteriorated sharply amid repeated attacks. In recent weeks the House of Representatives recommended suspending business permits for South African companies operating in Nigeria, while the Senate dispatched a delegation to Pretoria to register Nigeria’s formal displeasure.
The meeting underscores both the depth of Nigerian concern and the continuing diplomatic effort to address a crisis that has strained bilateral ties for years.
