Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, is holding a closed-door meeting with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, who is leading a special presidential delegation to Nigeria over the recent wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
Speaking at the start of the meeting, the South African delegation said its government has the sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, stressing that authorities have a responsibility to combat criminal activities, including drug trafficking and other offences allegedly involving some immigrants.
The delegation maintained that while South Africa remains committed to upholding the rule of law, it also has an obligation to protect its citizens and address security concerns through lawful immigration enforcement.
Responding on behalf of Nigeria, Ambassador Enikanolaiye strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as unacceptable and warning that the incidents reflect a disturbing pattern of Afrophobic violence against Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
He stressed that no individual should be subjected to violence or discrimination on the basis of nationality, urging the South African authorities to take concrete steps to protect foreign nationals and bring perpetrators to justice.
The minister also reminded the South African delegation of Nigeria’s historic support for the anti-apartheid struggle, noting that Nigerians stood firmly with South Africans during their fight against racial oppression.
According to Enikanolaiye, Afrophobic attacks cannot be justified or condoned under any circumstances.
He further disclosed that about 98 Nigerians have lost their lives in previous xenophobic-related attacks in South Africa, saying the recurring incidents highlight the need for frank, sincere and sustained engagement between both countries to prevent further violence and strengthen bilateral relations.
