President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday declined to meet a special delegation sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the ongoing xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, directing the team to instead hold talks 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, was in Abuja to deliver a message from President Ramaphosa and discuss the growing diplomatic tensions triggered by renewed attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants.
During the meeting, Enikanolaiye said President Tinubu had mandated him to engage the South African officials on ways to resolve the crisis while preserving the longstanding relationship between both countries.
The minister condemned the recurring attacks on Nigerians, noting that such incidents had persisted for decades. He disclosed that 98 Nigerians had been killed in mob and hate-related attacks since 2022 and urged South African authorities to ensure justice through due process rather than mob violence.
Enikanolaiye also expressed concern over the humanitarian impact of the attacks, recalling the evacuation of large numbers of Nigerians from South Africa after many lost their homes and businesses.
In his response, Lamola said President Ramaphosa remained firmly opposed to xenophobia, racism, and all forms of intolerance. He, however, maintained that South Africa would continue enforcing its immigration laws and tackling criminal activities within its borders.
He added that migration was a shared African challenge that required cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa, expressing optimism that continued dialogue would help ease tensions between the two countries.
Relations between both nations have deteriorated in recent months following renewed xenophobic violence that forced hundreds of Nigerians to return home, prompting increased diplomatic engagements to resolve the crisis.
