President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declined to meet a special delegation sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa following renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
Instead of receiving the delegation at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu directed the envoys to deliver their message to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
According to sources familiar with the development, the delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja over the weekend carrying a message from President Ramaphosa.
However, the visitors were referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where they were received by the minister on behalf of the President.
Confirming the development, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the South African delegation arrived on Friday without prior notice to the Nigerian government and requested an immediate meeting with President Tinubu.
Onanuga explained that officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered the request inconsistent with diplomatic protocol.
According to him, the ministry proposed a meeting for Monday, but President Tinubu instructed that the message be received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs instead.
He added that Ambassador Enikanolaiye was directed to engage with the delegation and subsequently brief the President on the outcome of the discussions.
The diplomatic development comes amid renewed reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, incidents that have continued to generate concern across the continent and prompted calls for stronger protections for foreign residents.
Tinubu Declines Meeting with South African Envoy Over Xenophobia Concerns
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