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The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice.
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The decision followed renewed concerns over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties amid recurring xenophobic attacks.
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The lawmakers demanded urgent and concrete action from the South African government to protect Nigerians and other African nationals, investigate reported attacks, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable.
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They stressed that the measures were not intended to undermine Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic ties with South Africa, but said the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians in the country could no longer be treated lightly.
September 11, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian National Assembly has hit back at South Africa over recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals, suspending all official visits to the country and ordering a boycott of legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities.
THEWILL reports that the decision, which takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice, covers senators, members of the House of Representatives, National Assembly committees, officials and staff.
It followed growing concerns by the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives over reports that Nigerians living and doing legitimate business in South Africa have been killed, injured, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties as a result of xenophobic violence.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the leadership said the attacks had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders for the South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
The lawmakers also acknowledged interventions by the Federal Government and other stakeholders to assist Nigerians affected by the attacks and facilitate the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa.
Under the resolution, all official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff have been suspended.
The boycott extends to conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other activities organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.
The National Assembly further directed that its members and officials must not participate physically or virtually in legislative programmes hosted by South Africa.
The Clerk was directed to communicate the decision to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff for strict compliance.
The leadership said the decision was taken out of concern for the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa and should not be interpreted as an attempt to sever or undermine the longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and South Africa.
Rather, it described the action as a firm expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.
The lawmakers called on the South African government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals against further xenophobic attacks.
They demanded that reported incidents be thoroughly investigated, with suspected perpetrators arrested and those found culpable prosecuted in accordance with South African law.
The lawmakers also urged the leadership of state Houses of Assembly across Nigeria to take note of the resolution and consider adopting similar measures in response to the situation.
The National Assembly leadership said it would continue to monitor developments concerning the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa. It added that the suspension and boycott would remain in force until further notice, but could be reviewed depending on developments and the steps taken by the South African authorities.
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Background
Nigeria and South Africa maintain one of the most important bilateral relationships on the African continent, with extensive diplomatic, economic, trade, investment, security and people-to-people ties.
However, relations between the two countries have repeatedly come under strain over attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
Xenophobic violence has, over the years, resulted in attacks on foreign-owned businesses, destruction of property, displacement and, in some cases, deaths. Nigerians have frequently been among those affected, prompting diplomatic protests, calls for stronger protection and interventions by both governments.
The recurring incidents have also generated public anger in Nigeria, particularly where Nigerians perceive South African authorities as failing to adequately protect foreign nationals or bring perpetrators to justice.
The latest action by the National Assembly marks a significant escalation in Nigeria’s institutional response to the issue, as the federal legislature has now moved from appeals and diplomatic concerns to suspending parliamentary engagement with South African legislative institutions.
The decision places the issue of the safety of Nigerians in South Africa firmly on the agenda of Nigeria’s legislative and diplomatic relations with Pretoria, while leaving the door open for a review should the South African government take concrete steps to address the attacks and protect affected foreign nationals.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
