President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has turned down a request to receive a special envoy dispatched by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, amid escalating tensions over persistent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
Findings by Spear News noted that the South African delegation, led by 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.
However, Presidential sources confirmed that no agreement has been reached for Tinubu to meet the envoy.
The development follows the reported killing of Nigerian national Chika Ibe, who was allegedly picked up from his residence at Parksig Villas Complex in Bellville, Cape Town, and tortured to death by personnel of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The incident occurred less than 24 hours before the envoy’s arrival.
Nigeria Demands Concrete Commitments
Diplomatic sources revealed that Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, advised that it was not an appropriate 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 stressed that the South African delegation could not secure an audience with the President without a prior appointment and concrete commitments from Pretoria. According to sources, Odumegwu-Ojukwu 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
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.
The framework echoes earlier agreements between both nations. In October 2019, following a wave of xenophobic violence in Johannesburg that stirred tensions between Africa’s two largest economies, former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Ramaphosa agreed to set up early warning systems and share intelligence to prevent attacks on foreign nationals.
At the time, Ramaphosa stated: “Early warning mechanisms will be set up so that when we see there is restiveness in both of our people… we will be able to inform one another.”
However, Nigerian officials have noted that the current framework could have facilitated compensation claims for Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed during xenophobic attacks in South Africa. South African authorities have so far declined to compensate victims of the attacks.
Nigeria’s Firm Stance Against Xenophobia
Nigeria has maintained a firm stance against xenophobic attacks in South Africa. 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.
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 reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with regional and continental institutions to address the crisis.
Economic Concerns Behind Diplomatic Outreach
Observers believe South Africa’s diplomatic outreach may be driven by concerns over the potential impact of deteriorating relations on South African investments and businesses operating in Nigeria, as well as Nigeria’s growing campaign for tougher continental measures against xenophobia and Afrophobic attacks.
The outcome of a telephone conversation reportedly initiated by President Ramaphosa over the weekend remains unclear at the time of this report.
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