The Minister of State for Overseas Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has referred to as on the African Union to position xenophobic assaults towards Africans, significantly Nigerians in South Africa, excessive on its peace and safety agenda, insisting that no African ought to really feel unsafe anyplace on the continent.
In a press assertion on Wednesday signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the minister made the decision whereas receiving a high-level delegation of the African Union Peace and Safety Council on the Ministry of Overseas Affairs in Abuja following the Third Annual Joint Consultative Assembly between the AU Peace and Safety Council and the ECOWAS Mediation and Safety Council.
Enikanolaiye described the latest assaults on African nationals in South Africa as unacceptable and opposite to the beliefs of African unity, solidarity and integration on which the African Union was based.
He disclosed that beneath the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Authorities had evacuated affected Nigerians from South Africa by way of government-funded repatriation flights to make sure their secure return house.
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The minister stated the African Union ought to give better consideration to the difficulty whereas encouraging member states to handle migration challenges by way of inclusive governance, financial improvement and expanded alternatives for his or her residents.
He additionally reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to advancing the African Union’s objectives of peace, safety, democracy, good governance and regional integration, describing the AU Peace and Safety Council as considered one of Africa’s most vital establishments for battle prevention and peacebuilding.
Talking on safety challenges throughout the continent, Enikanolaiye stated Africa continues to face rising threats, together with terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, unconstitutional modifications of presidency and humanitarian crises.
He harassed the necessity for stronger cooperation amongst African establishments, higher governance frameworks and more practical mechanisms for battle prevention and sustainable peacebuilding.
On funding peace operations, the minister stated Africa should cut back its dependence on exterior donors by growing sustainable financing mechanisms. He pointed to the ECOWAS Neighborhood Levy as a profitable mannequin that might be tailored by the African Union to strengthen its peace and safety structure.
Enikanolaiye additionally reiterated Nigeria’s assist for the implementation of United Nations Safety Council Decision 2719 on financing African Union-led peace assist operations, whereas urging African international locations to extend their monetary contributions to peace and safety initiatives.
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The AU delegation, led by Nigeria’s Everlasting Consultant to the African Union and Chairperson of the AU Peace and Safety Council for June 2026, Ambassador Nasir Aminu, briefed the minister on the result of the consultative assembly, which reviewed rising safety threats, ongoing peace initiatives and measures to strengthen cooperation between the AU and ECOWAS.
Additionally talking, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Safety, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, counseled Nigeria’s management in selling peace, stability and regional integration, whereas reaffirming the Fee’s dedication to working with member states to sort out Africa’s rising safety challenges.
