President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dealt a heavy blow to diplomatic relations with South Africa by refusing to receive a special envoy dispatched by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as tensions escalate over persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians .
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, the envoys have been left waiting at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, unable to secure an audience with President Tinubu .
The diplomatic snub came less than 24 hours after the reported killing of a Nigerian citizen, Chika Ibe, who was allegedly taken 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 has further inflamed public outrage and hardened Nigeria’s stance against what it calls recurring “Afrophobic attacks” targeting African nationals in South Africa .
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, advised against granting the South African delegation access to President Tinubu at this time, citing the continued attacks on Nigerians, their businesses, and properties in South Africa . She insisted that the delegation could not meet the President without a prior appointment and clear assurances from Pretoria on concrete steps to address the issue .
Odumegwu-Ojukwu was also said to have 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 .
Nigerian officials have expressed deep dissatisfaction that South Africa has yet to ratify the agreement, describing the reasons given for the delay as inadequate . The Early Warning Mechanism was designed to strengthen cooperation between both countries by improving intelligence sharing, monitoring threats of violence, protecting citizens, and facilitating rapid communication to prevent xenophobic attacks and other security incidents .
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the framework could have strengthened efforts to pursue compensation for Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed during previous xenophobic attacks, but South African authorities have so far declined to compensate victims .
The refusal to meet the envoys comes against a backdrop of growing parliamentary pressure in Abuja, where senators have condemned the violence, debated reviewing diplomatic ties, and floated possible economic measures targeting South African companies operating in Nigeria . Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented Nigeria at the recent ECOWAS summit in Sierra Leone, publicly condemned the attacks and revealed that the Federal Government had previously evacuated 1,490 Nigerians affected by earlier waves of xenophobic violence .
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 at the African Union . The outcome of a reported telephone conversation initiated by President Ramaphosa over the weekend remained unclear, and sources within the Presidency said President Tinubu had yet to agree to meet the South African envoy .