President Bola Tinubu declined to meet a special delegation from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, directing the visitors to engage instead with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
According to Presidency sources, the delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday seeking an audience with the President.
A Presidency source said the team had no prior appointment and was initially informed they could return on Monday, but Tinubu later instructed them to meet the minister, who would brief him on the outcome of the discussions.
The diplomatic development comes amid renewed tensions between Nigeria and South Africa following xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals, which reportedly led to the evacuation of nearly 600 Nigerians from South Africa.
The meeting is expected to address the growing diplomatic concerns between both countries.