Senior officials from South Africa and Nigeria have held high-level discussions in Abuja as both governments seek to strengthen bilateral relations while addressing growing concerns over migration, organised crime and xenophobic violence.
The meeting comes after months of heightened tensions triggered by attacks on foreign nationals and foreign-owned businesses in parts of South Africa, as well as concerns surrounding criminal activity involving a small number of foreign nationals.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, led the delegation to Nigeria, where he met representatives appointed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the discussions were constructive and focused on rebuilding trust, expanding cooperation and reinforcing long-standing diplomatic ties.
The talks followed Nigeria’s completion of its voluntary repatriation programme, under which nearly 1,490 Nigerian citizens returned home from South Africa, including 305 people on the final flight from Johannesburg last week.
Migration And Security Dominate Discussions
During the bilateral meeting, Lamola outlined several issues that have contributed to recent diplomatic tensions.
Among them was the installation of an individual presented as an “Igbo King” in South Africa’s Eastern Cape earlier this year, an event that generated widespread public debate because the title is not recognised within South Africa’s constitutional framework governing traditional leadership.
The South African delegation also raised concerns about organised crime, illicit drug trafficking and financial fraud allegedly involving certain foreign nationals, including some Nigerian citizens.
According to officials, more than 500 Nigerian nationals had entered South Africa’s criminal justice system by early July 2026. Lamola stressed that law enforcement actions are evidence-based and directed at individuals suspected of criminal conduct rather than the wider Nigerian community living legally in South Africa.
Officials also discussed the continued challenge of hijacked residential and commercial buildings in areas such as Hillbrow in Johannesburg and Sunnyside in Pretoria, where criminal activity has affected both local residents and foreign nationals.
Commitment To Diplomacy And Human Rights
The Nigerian delegation acknowledged the importance of holding offenders accountable while emphasising the need to uphold due process, fair trial standards and humane treatment for all detainees.
Both governments agreed that inflammatory public rhetoric should be avoided and that diplomatic engagement remains the most effective way to address migration-related tensions.
Lamola reiterated that the South African government condemns xenophobia, racism and all forms of discrimination, adding that criminal activity can never justify attacks against foreign nationals or vigilante violence.
He said the responsibility for law enforcement rests solely with the state and confirmed that investigations into recent incidents remain ongoing.
Both countries concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to bilateral cooperation, constitutional governance and Pan-African solidarity as the foundation for peaceful coexistence, stronger regional security and deeper economic and diplomatic ties.
Source: Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)