President Bola Tinubu has outrightly refused to receive a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The refusal comes amid growing concerns over persistent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the South African delegation, led by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, with what was described as a “very important message” for the Nigerian leader.
Though, this is coming after the reported killing of a Nigerian national, Mr. Chika Ibe, who was allegedly taken into custody from his residence at Parksig Villas Complex in Bellville, Cape Town, and tortured to death by operatives of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Nigeria has maintained a firm stance against xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
While speaking at the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, which took place recently in Lungi, Sierra Leone, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Tinubu, condemned the attacks and pledged that Nigeria would push for stronger measures against xenophobia at the African Union.
Speaking on the recurring Afrophobic attacks targeting African nationals in South Africa, Shettima called for a united continental response to protect the rights and dignity of Africans living across the continent.
He disclosed that the Federal Government had evacuated 1,490 Nigerians affected by previous xenophobic violence and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to working with regional and continental institutions to address the crisis.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources revealed that Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, advised that it was not the right time for President Tinubu to receive the South African envoy, citing the continued attacks on Nigerians, their businesses, and properties in South Africa.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, according to sources noted that the South African delegation could not secure an audience with the President without a prior appointment and concrete commitments from Pretoria.
She was also said to have insisted that South Africa must present a signed copy of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism (EWM), which both countries signed in Abuja on October 22, 2025, before further diplomatic engagement could proceed.
South Africa has reportedly failed to ratify the agreement, citing what Nigerian officials described as inadequate reasons.
The Early Warning Mechanism was designed to strengthen cooperation between both countries in monitoring threats of violence, protecting citizens, and addressing consular matters.
It also provides for rapid communication channels to de-escalate security risks involving foreign nationals and to prevent criminal acts, reprisals, and xenophobic attacks against citizens of either country.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the framework could have facilitated compensation claims for Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed during xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
However, South African authorities have so far declined to compensate victims of the attacks.
