The Federal Government on Monday strongly condemned the recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, urging Pretoria to take urgent and concrete steps to end the violence.
The condemnation comes as President Bola Tinubu declined to personally receive a special envoy from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Instead, the President directed the delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, to meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Sola Enikanolaiye, who is expected to brief the President on the outcome of the talks.
Multiple Presidency sources told The PUNCH that although the South African delegation arrived in Abuja on Friday with a message from President Ramaphosa, Tinubu opted against meeting them amid the diplomatic tension generated by the recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
One Presidency source said, “They actually came here on Friday wanting to see the President. But there was no prior notice.
