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Xenophobia: Tinubu softens stance, agrees to meet South African envoy after Ramaphosa’s phone call
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has agreed to meet the special envoy of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after initially declining to receive the delegation over the persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.
The South African delegation, led by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, 2026, but was left waiting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel following the President’s decision not to grant an audience.
The initial refusal came amid growing outrage over repeated attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa, with the Federal Government insisting that stronger commitments were needed from Pretoria before high-level diplomatic engagement could proceed.
However, top diplomatic sources disclosed to our journalists that President Tinubu later agreed to receive the delegation following renewed diplomatic efforts by the South African government, including a telephone conversation reportedly initiated by President Ramaphosa over the weekend.
The meeting is expected to hold later on Monday and will involve senior officials from both countries.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, is expected to play a key role during the discussions in the absence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is currently attending official engagements in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu had earlier advised against granting the South African delegation an audience, arguing that it was inappropriate to receive the envoy while Nigerians continued to face xenophobic attacks, with many reportedly losing their lives, businesses and properties.
The diplomatic engagement comes as Nigeria continues to press South Africa to take stronger action against xenophobic violence and ensure the protection of Nigerian citizens living in the country.
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