Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has agreed to receive a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa following diplomatic efforts that included a telephone conversation between both leaders over the weekend.
The meeting is expected to take place later on Monday and will involve representatives from Nigeria and South Africa.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, is expected to play a key role in the discussions in the absence of Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is currently in Addis Ababa.
The development follows an earlier decision by Tinubu not to receive the South African delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
The delegation arrived in Abuja on July 24 with a message from President Ramaphosa but was unable to secure an audience with the Nigerian leader.
Diplomatic sources said concerns over continued xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa influenced the initial decision.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu was said to have advised against receiving the delegation at the time, citing ongoing attacks on Nigerians, their businesses and properties in South Africa.
She was also reported to have insisted on progress regarding the Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism signed by both countries in Abuja on October 22, 2025.
The framework was designed to strengthen cooperation in monitoring security threats, protecting citizens and improving communication on consular matters involving nationals of both countries.
Nigerian officials have expressed concern that South Africa has yet to ratify the agreement, which they believe could help prevent future incidents and support efforts to address losses suffered by victims of xenophobic violence.
The diplomatic tensions come amid renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, including reports of attacks targeting foreign nationals.
Nigeria has repeatedly condemned xenophobic violence and called for stronger continental measures to protect Africans living and working across the continent.
At the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Sierra Leone, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu, urged a united African response to xenophobia and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
The planned meeting between Tinubu and the South African envoy is expected to provide an opportunity for both countries to address the concerns and strengthen bilateral engagement.
