Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused the South African Presidency of deliberately excluding Nigeria’s introduction from a livestream of his presentation of letters of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Mr Fani-Kayode made the allegation in a statement on Friday, concerning the ceremony at the South African Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, where he presented his credentials alongside other envoy from 14 other countries.

Describing the event as historic, Mr Fani-Kayode said it marked the first time in four years that Nigeria posted a substantive ambassador to South Africa.

He alleged that while the introductions and speeches of the other 14 ambassadors were broadcast live, the South African Presidency omitted the introduction of the Nigerian delegation and his speech.

According to him, the livestream was interrupted during Nigeria’s turn and resumed only after he finished speaking.

Mr Fani-Kayode said he raised the matter directly with President Ramaphosa during the photo session after the ceremony, adding that the South African president took him to relevant officials, questioned them and directed them to address the issue immediately.

However, he said the intervention came too late, leaving Nigeria as the only country whose presentation was excluded from the broadcast.

The envoy added that the Nigerian television stations present at the event recorded his speech and would release the footage to the Nigerian public.

He also said he declined an interview request from South Africa’s public broadcaster, SABC News, because of what he described as the deplorable way the Nigerian delegation was treated.

Mr Fani-Kayode expressed respect for South Africa and its people but insisted that he would not tolerate what he considered disrespect towards Nigeria or its government.