Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered a boycott of legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities.
The decision was taken by the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
The directive follows renewed reports of xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said lawmakers were particularly concerned over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses, homes and investments.
The National Assembly said the attacks had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect Nigerians and prosecute perpetrators.
Under the new directive, all official visits to South Africa by lawmakers, committees, officials and staff are suspended until further notice.
The boycott also covers conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities.
The suspension applies to both physical and virtual engagements, including online meetings hosted by South African legislative institutions.
No National Assembly delegation, committee, lawmaker, official or staff member may participate in such activities without prior approval from the leadership.
Existing invitations and proposed programmes involving official visits or legislative engagements in South Africa will also be reviewed.
The National Assembly stressed that the decision does not amount to a breakdown of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relations with South Africa.
It described the action as a firm but measured response to concerns over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and doing legitimate business in the country.
The lawmakers urged the South African government to take urgent measures to prevent further xenophobic attacks, investigate reported incidents, arrest suspects and prosecute those found guilty.
The National Assembly also called on State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria to take note of the decision and consider similar measures.
It said the suspension would remain in force until further notice and could be reviewed by the National Assembly leadership as circumstances change.
The House of Representatives reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad while stressing that Nigeria remains committed to constructive diplomatic and parliamentary relations with South Africa.
