President Bola Tinubu directed a high-level South African diplomatic delegation, led by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, to conduct formal bilateral discussions with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, rather than granting an immediate presidential audience. The visiting delegation sought discussions following renewed xenophobic incidents and tension affecting foreign nationals in South Africa.
According to foreign service officials, the presidential directive reflects Nigeria’s deliberate approach to enforcing formal diplomatic protocols when addressing recurring tensions involving citizens abroad. The bilateral meetings focused on securing concrete safety guarantees for the Nigerian diaspora, addressing property damage, and establishing joint operational frameworks to prevent future incidents.
The diplomatic engagement comes as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees the safety and voluntary repatriation options for affected citizens. Nigerian officials emphasized that long-term diplomatic and economic cooperation between Africa’s two largest economies requires clear, actionable commitments to protecting human rights, maintaining security, and upholding rule-of-law protections for diaspora communities.
The high-level diplomatic meetings were monitored across international news desks. Reporting by *Premium Times* detailed the presidential instruction, noting that “Tinubu instructed them to engage with Enikanolaiye… amid a diplomatic row between both countries over renewed xenophobic attacks”. Simultaneously, an update published by *The Guardian* recorded Presidency statements: “President Bola Tinubu declined to receive a special delegation… directing the visiting team to instead meet with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs”.
Echotitbits take:
By directing the visiting delegation to state ministerial channels, Nigeria is signalling a firmer diplomatic stance on diaspora protection. Watch for whether these talks yield binding legal agreements or enforcement mechanisms to protect Nigerian businesses in South Africa and restore smooth trade relations.
Source: GOV.ZA – https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/international-relations-and-cooperation-diplomatic-engagements-nigeria-27-jul, and July 28, 2026
Photo credit: International Crisis Group
