According to PUNCH, multiple Presidency sources confirmed that the South African delegation, led by the country's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday seeking an audience with Tinubu.
President Bola Tinubu on Monday declined to meet a special delegation from South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, sent to discuss the ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, instead directing the envoys to engage with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
The development comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and South Africa following renewed attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals, which reportedly forced the evacuation of nearly 600 Nigerians from the country.
According to PUNCH, multiple Presidency sources confirmed that the South African delegation, led by the country's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday seeking an audience with Tinubu.
However, the President declined the request and instructed the delegation to hold talks with Enikanolaiye, who was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in June 2026 after Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was elevated to the position of substantive Minister of Foreign Affairs following the departure of Yusuf Tuggar.
