Nigeria's Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused the South African Presidency of deliberately excluding his introduction and speech from the live broadcast of a diplomatic ceremony held at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Friday.
Fani-Kayode was presenting his letters of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa alongside ambassadors from 14 other countries. According to Punch Newspapers, the former Minister of Aviation said the ceremony marked the return of a substantive Nigerian envoy to Pretoria after four years without one.
What Happened at the Ceremony in Pretoria
The ceremony was transmitted live by the South African Presidency. Fani-Kayode said all 15 ambassadors present were formally introduced and delivered speeches, yet Nigeria alone was kept off the broadcast.
"Every single one of the 15 ambassadors that were present were introduced formally and gave a speech. Curiously the South African Presidency refused to air the introduction of my goodself and the Nigerian delegation or to air my speech," he said in a statement.
"They went a step further by cutting us out of the livestream completely and went back on livestream only after my speech was concluded."
The ambassador called the omission deliberate. "Of all the 15 introductions and speeches that were made and delivered this morning only Nigeria's was cut out," he said.
Ramaphosa Intervened After the Complaint
Fani-Kayode said he raised the matter directly with President Ramaphosa during a photo session after the ceremony, on the premises of the guest house. He said the South African leader responded without delay.
"Right there in my presence he questioned them and directed them to resolve the issue immediately. Sadly by then it was too late and Nigeria had been left out," he stated.
The ambassador thanked Ramaphosa for his intervention, saying: "My thanks goes to President Ramaphosa for his concern and timely intervention."
Why the Incident Matters for the Region
For Eswatini, the episode carries a particular weight. Fani-Kayode is concurrently accredited to the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Kingdom of Lesotho, as Blueprint Newspapers reported, which means the conduct of his mission in Pretoria shapes how Nigeria represents its interests across our region as well.
It is no secret that South Africa's state machinery does not always treat smaller regional partners and their guests with the seriousness they deserve. An incident of this kind, in which a foreign envoy is silenced on a state broadcast, does not reflect well on Pretoria's respect for diplomatic protocol. Protocol is not decoration; it is the visible expression of the order that governs relations between states, and when a host state breaches it, questions follow about its reliability.
Fani-Kayode himself suggested that hostility within South African official circles lay behind the exclusion. "Clearly some elements in South Africa do not want to hear what we have to say or see our faces but we are here to stay as long as we are welcome and have the confidence of President Ramaphosa, which I am sure we do," he said.
The Envoy's Response and the Footage
The ambassador declined an interview request from the South African Broadcasting Corporation, the state broadcaster, following the incident. He said he told them to listen to his speech instead, the one their presidency officials had refused to air.
He also said Nigerian television stations present at the ceremony recorded his remarks in full and would release the footage to the Nigerian public. Footage of his complaint to Ramaphosa and the president's intervention would also be made public, he added.
In his speech, delivered before the exclusion was noticed, Fani-Kayode struck a dignified note, as TVC News reported: "I come here standing tall and proud, having been sent by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to present my Letter of Credence to you, his brother and his friend."
A Test of Diplomatic Conduct
Fani-Kayode, who also served Nigeria as Minister of Aviation, said he holds South Africa and its people in high regard but will not tolerate disrespect toward his government or people.
"One thing is clear, I have immense respect and affection for South Africa and the South African people but I will not be anywhere or tolerate anyone that disrespects or treats our Government or our people flippantly," he said.
His statement closed with a goodwill message to both nations: "God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God bless the Republic of South Africa."
According to Daily Trust, the ambassador described the morning as historic despite the controversy, noting that the damage was already done by the time the broadcast fault was raised. The incident now stands as a matter of record between Abuja and Pretoria, and how South Africa's presidency explains the omission will be watched closely in the region's capitals, Mbabane included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Femi Fani-Kayode?
He is Nigeria's Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, and a former Nigerian Minister of Aviation. He presented his letters of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria on Friday, becoming the first substantive Nigerian ambassador to South Africa in four years.
What exactly was excluded from the livestream?
The South African Presidency's live broadcast omitted Fani-Kayode's formal introduction, his delegation, and his speech. The other 14 ambassadors were all shown. The broadcast resumed only after his speech had ended.
How did President Ramaphosa respond?
Ramaphosa summoned the officials responsible for the broadcast, questioned them in Fani-Kayode's presence, and directed them to resolve the issue immediately. The ambassador publicly thanked him for the intervention.