President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly declined to receive a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, amid ongoing concerns over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
The delegation, led by South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, with what sources described as an important message for the President.
The move follows the alleged killing of Nigerian citizen Chika Ibe, who was reportedly taken from his home in Bellville, Cape Town, and tortured to death by South African police officers.
At a recent ECOWAS summit in Sierra Leone, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Tinubu, condemned the attacks and said Nigeria would push for stronger African Union action against xenophobia.
Diplomatic sources said Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu advised against the meeting, insisting that South Africa must first ratify and present the signed Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism (EWM), which both countries signed in October 2025.
The agreement is intended to enhance cooperation on citizen protection, prevent xenophobic violence, and address consular matters. Nigerian officials also believe it could support compensation claims for victims of past attacks.
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