President Bola Tinubu has reportedly declined to receive a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa following renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa.
The South African delegation, led by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday with a message from President Ramaphosa.
The visit came less than a day after the reported killing of a Nigerian, Chika Ibe, who was allegedly abducted from his home in Bellville, Cape Town, and tortured to death by members of the South African Police Service.
Sources said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu advised against the meeting, arguing that continued attacks on Nigerians and their businesses made it inappropriate for the President to receive the delegation.
She reportedly insisted that South Africa must first submit a signed copy of the Early Warning Mechanism Memorandum of Understanding agreed by both countries in Abuja on October 22, 2025.
The agreement was designed to improve cooperation in preventing violence, protecting citizens, handling consular issues and responding quickly to threats against foreign nationals.
Nigerian officials also noted that South Africa has yet to ratify the agreement or compensate Nigerians who suffered losses during previous xenophobic attacks.
As of the time of the report, President Tinubu had not agreed to meet the South African envoy, while the outcome of a reported phone call from President Ramaphosa remained uncertain.
The diplomatic standoff is believed to reflect growing concerns over worsening Nigeria-South Africa relations and their potential impact on investments and efforts to strengthen the African Union’s response to xenophobia.
