President Bola Tinubu declines a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special envoy over an unscheduled visit to Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu has declined to meet a special envoy from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, according to Presidency sources familiar with the discussions.
Reports say the South African delegation, led by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday with a message from President Ramaphosa.
Arise News understands the delegation sought a meeting with President Tinubu without prior notice.
The development follows renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa, with Abuja continuing to press Pretoria to better protect its citizens and ensure accountability for the violence.
The delegation is now expected to meet Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, instead of President Tinubu.
Arise News reached out to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, for comment. Neither had responded by the time of the broadcast.