The Federal Government has strongly condemned the renewed wave of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, calling on the South African authorities to take immediate and decisive action to halt the violence and ensure the safety of foreign nationals.
The development comes as President Bola Tinubu declined to personally receive a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Instead, the President directed the South African delegation, led by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, to meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who is expected to brief him on the outcome of the discussions.
Presidency sources disclosed that although the delegation arrived in Abuja on Friday carrying a message from President Ramaphosa, Tinubu chose not to meet with them amid growing diplomatic concerns over the continued attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa.
According to one of the sources, the delegation sought an audience with the President without prior notice, prompting the Presidency to instead arrange a meeting with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Another source said no meeting had been scheduled between Tinubu and the delegation, while a third revealed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is currently attending official engagements in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, advised that it was not appropriate for the President to receive the delegation while the attacks were still ongoing.
Speaking during the meeting in Abuja, Ambassador Enikanolaiye said President Tinubu mandated the engagement to explore practical solutions to the recurring attacks and preserve the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and South Africa.
He expressed disappointment over the repeated incidents of violence against Nigerians, recalling Nigeria’s significant contribution to South Africa’s struggle against apartheid and the close partnership both countries later built through the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
“It is with profound pleasure that I welcome our brothers from South Africa. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had actually asked us to meet with you and exchange views and perspectives on how to address and resolve the ongoing Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, of which Nigerians and other citizens of Africa have been victims,” he said.
Enikanolaiye described the attacks as a long-standing problem, noting that similar incidents had been recorded in 1995, 1998, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2026.
He disclosed that at least 98 Nigerians had lost their lives in mob attacks and hate-related violence since 2022, stressing that Nigerians remained the predominant victims of what Nigeria considers Afrophobic attacks.
While reaffirming that Nigeria does not support criminality, the minister maintained that anyone accused of breaking the law should be prosecuted through the judicial system rather than subjected to mob violence.
“The Nigerian government will not support drug peddlers, but what we are saying is that anyone accused of an offence should be treated in accordance with your constitution, international human rights instruments and the minimum requirements of humanity,” he said.
He added that many Nigerians legally residing in South Africa had also become victims of the attacks, expressing concern over reports that security agencies failed to intervene in some incidents.
Enikanolaiye said such situations raised serious concerns about the responsibility of the South African authorities to protect lives and property.
He also recalled the humanitarian impact of previous attacks, revealing that Nigeria had evacuated nearly 1,500 of its citizens from South Africa after earlier outbreaks of violence.
“I shed tears in the plane when I saw children, women and the elderly returning home with almost nothing. Some had their properties looted and destroyed,” he said.
The latest diplomatic engagement follows another wave of xenophobic attacks that erupted in April, prompting the Federal Government to approve evacuation flights for stranded Nigerians, with more than 1,000 citizens registering for voluntary repatriation.
Responding on behalf of President Ramaphosa, Lamola said South Africa remained opposed to xenophobia and every form of discrimination.
“We have been outspoken against any intolerance, including xenophobia, racism, homophobia, violence and discrimination directed at individuals within our borders,” he said.
He, however, reiterated South Africa’s determination to enforce its immigration laws and tackle criminal activities within its territory.
“President Ramaphosa has also been very firm on South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce immigration laws, including dealing decisively with irregular migration, undocumented immigrants and acts of criminality committed within our borders,” Lamola added.
He described migration as a challenge facing many African countries and expressed optimism that sustained dialogue between Nigeria and South Africa would help strengthen bilateral relations and ease the current diplomatic tensions.
Relations between both countries have come under increasing strain following repeated attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
In response to the recent incidents, the House of Representatives recommended the suspension of business permits issued to South African companies operating in Nigeria, while the Senate also dispatched a delegation to Pretoria to formally convey Nigeria’s concerns over the attacks.
