Former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode has formally begun his assignment as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa after presenting his Letter of Credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria on Friday, November 13, 2026.
The ceremony took place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House, according to ThisDay, Arise News and TVC News. Fani-Kayode, who is also accredited to the kingdoms of Lesotho and Eswatini, used the occasion to promise a reset in relations between Africa’s two largest economies.
What happened in Pretoria
Fani-Kayode was one of several envoys received by Ramaphosa on Friday. ThisDay reported that heads of mission from the European Union, France, Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, South Sudan, Somalia, Comoros, Madagascar, Seychelles, Uruguay, Vietnam, Timor-Leste and the Maldives also presented their credentials at the same ceremony.
In his remarks, Fani-Kayode conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill and recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the fight against apartheid. According to Blueprint and Arise News, he said rebuilding trust and confidence between Abuja and Pretoria would be central to his tenure. He also praised South Africa’s role in BRICS and the G20, and expressed hope that the relationship between Tinubu and Ramaphosa would help strengthen ties.
Ramaphosa, for his part, said South Africa welcomed partnerships that support economic growth, industrial development, job creation and skills, Naija News Break and other outlets reported.
A long road to Pretoria
Friday’s ceremony completes a process that began almost a year ago. President Tinubu named Fani-Kayode as an ambassador in late November 2025, and the Senate confirmed him in December 2025. He was initially expected to be posted to Germany before South Africa was settled on as his station.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, handed him and other envoys their letters of credence in Abuja on July 6, 2026, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release. First Daily News reported that Fani-Kayode assumed duty on October 30 after submitting copies of his credentials to South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
His appointment drew criticism from some quarters. In March 2026, a diaspora civil society group wrote to Ramaphosa urging him not to accept Fani-Kayode, citing his past controversial public statements, Sahara Reporters reported. South Africa nonetheless granted agrément, clearing the way for Friday’s ceremony.
Why the posting matters
Nigeria and South Africa are the continent’s biggest economies and are often described as natural partners, but relations have been strained at times. Periodic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, disputes over immigration and visas, and trade frictions have all tested ties in recent years.
South Africa hosts a large Nigerian community, and Nigerian businesses have significant interests there, just as South African firms such as telecoms, retail and media groups operate widely in Nigeria. The welfare of Nigerians living in South Africa is expected to be one of the high commissioner’s most watched responsibilities.
Fani-Kayode’s arrival also comes as Nigeria gradually fills ambassadorial posts that had been vacant for long periods. In 2023, President Tinubu recalled all of Nigeria’s ambassadors, and many missions operated for months without substantive heads before the new list of envoys was approved.
What happens next
With his credentials accepted, Fani-Kayode can now fully represent Nigeria in South Africa, including engaging the South African government on trade, consular issues and the protection of Nigerian citizens. He is also expected to present credentials in Lesotho and Eswatini, where he holds concurrent accreditation.
Observers will be watching whether his pledge to “reset” relations translates into practical steps, such as smoother visa processes, stronger business links and quicker responses when Nigerians face problems in South Africa.
Sources: ThisDay, Arise News, TVC News, Blueprint, First Daily News, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sahara Reporters.
