Tinubu Refuses Meeting with South African Envoy

On Monday, President Bola Tinubu declined to meet with a special delegation from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, which was led by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola. The delegation sought an audience with Tinubu in Abuja regarding ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Instead, Tinubu directed them to engage with Sola Enikanolaiye, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who was appointed in June 2026 following the elevation of Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu to the substantive ministerial position after Yusuf Tuggar's exit. This diplomatic incident arises amid a significant diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa, exacerbated by renewed xenophobic violence that has resulted in the evacuation of nearly 600 Nigerians back to their home country.