The National Assembly has suspended all official legislative engagements with South Africa over renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in the country.
The decision, announced on Friday, followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives amid reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their homes, businesses and investments in South Africa.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the federal legislature expressed concern over the recurring attacks and what it described as the continued failure of South African authorities to stop the violence despite repeated diplomatic interventions.
The suspension covers all official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff, and will remain in place until further notice.
It also extends to conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchange programmes and other engagements organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.
The National Assembly said the restriction applies to both physical attendance and participation through virtual or online platforms.
“The leadership has directed the Clerk to issue the necessary communication to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff to ensure strict compliance,” the statement read.
The legislature said the suspension would remain effective pending a review by its leadership “as circumstances warrant.”
According to the National Assembly, the decision followed persistent reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
It said repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect foreign nationals and prosecute perpetrators had failed to prevent further incidents.
The lawmakers acknowledged efforts by the Nigerian government to assist affected citizens and facilitate their return to Nigeria but said stronger action was necessary to demonstrate the country’s concern for the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad.
The National Assembly, however, stressed that the suspension was not designed to damage the longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relationship between Nigeria and South Africa.
Rather, it described the move as “a strong expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses” in South Africa.
The latest action comes months after Nigeria commenced the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks.
The first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on June 11, while subsequent evacuation flights brought back hundreds of additional returnees.
By July 9, about 1,000 Nigerians had reportedly been evacuated after voluntarily registering for the exercise and undergoing government screening.
The evacuation continued in August, with 83 Nigerians returning to Lagos following renewed attacks and another 67 returnees arriving a week later.
Government agencies received the returnees for documentation, profiling and reunification with their families.
Nigeria has also continued to apply diplomatic pressure on South Africa over the attacks.
In July, the Federal Government called on South African authorities to take concrete measures to end recurring xenophobic violence against Nigerians.
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa also disclosed that the government had begun documenting businesses and properties abandoned by Nigerians who returned home, as part of efforts to explore possible compensation.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently raised the issue before the African Union, calling for collective action and urging the continental body to include xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027.
The National Assembly has now called on the South African government to take urgent steps to protect Nigerians and other African nationals living in the country.
It urged the authorities to prevent further attacks, investigate reported incidents, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable under the law.
The leadership also urged state Houses of Assembly across Nigeria to take note of the resolution and consider adopting similar measures.
The National Assembly said it would continue monitoring developments affecting the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.
Source: National Assembly
