President Bola Tinubu has declined to personally receive a special envoy dispatched by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, amid deepening diplomatic tension over renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, CDA News Nigeria reports.
CDA News gathered from the report that the South African delegation, led by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, bearing what officials described as a “very important message” from Ramaphosa.
Rather than granting the delegation an audience, Tinubu directed them to meet with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who received the envoys at the Tafawa Balewa House.
Diplomatic sources said Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu advised against the President personally receiving the envoy, citing continuing attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa. A Presidency source confirmed the delegation had initially been told to return on Monday before being redirected to meet Enikanolaiye instead, who would later brief the President on the outcome.
Punch
Businessday NG
Receiving the delegation, Enikanolaiye said Tinubu had directed the meeting to exchange views on resolving the crisis, stressing that the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and South Africa should not be undermined by attacks on African migrants.
Punch
The snub comes barely 24 hours after reports that a Nigerian national, Chika Ibe, was allegedly abducted from his Cape Town residence and killed by South African police personnel, further straining relations between both countries.
CDA News Nigeria will continue monitoring this developing diplomatic story.
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