Photo Credit: State House / AFP

President Bola Tinubu has declined to meet with a special delegation sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the rising xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

The delegation, led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday seeking an audience with the President. ee09

Instead, Tinubu directed the team to meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye. ee09

Key Points:
– Nigeria condemns attacks: Enikanolaiye said Tinubu ordered the meeting to address persistent “Afrophobic attacks” targeting Nigerians
– Casualties: At least 98 Nigerians have been killed in xenophobic attacks since 2022. 1,490 Nigerians have been evacuated since the latest outbreak
– Government action: Tinubu also ordered Nigerian missions in South Africa to set up a crisis notification unit for citizens in danger
– ECOWAS push: Tinubu called on ECOWAS to speak with one voice and table the matter before the African Union 7ec353f7f861

Nigeria accused South African authorities of failing to protect foreign nationals, with reports of police unwillingness to intervene raising “issues of complicity”. 7ec3

Source: PUNCH / Reuters