Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official legislative engagements with South Africa following renewed reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals living in the country.
The decision was announced on Friday, September 11, after consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives over reports that Nigerians had been 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 legislature expressed concern over the repeated incidents of xenophobic violence and the alleged inability of South African authorities to bring the attacks to an end despite previous diplomatic interventions.
Under the new directive, National Assembly lawmakers, committees, officials and staff are barred from undertaking official visits to South Africa.
The suspension also covers parliamentary conferences, seminars, workshops, legislative meetings, exchange programmes and other engagements organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.
The National Assembly said the restriction applies to both physical and virtual participation in such activities.
According to the statement, the suspension will remain in place until further notice. However, the leadership of the National Assembly may review the decision depending on developments surrounding the safety of Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The Clerk has also been instructed to communicate the directive to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff of the National Assembly for immediate compliance.
The lawmakers said the action was prompted by persistent reports of attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals residing in South Africa.
They noted that previous calls by the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders for stronger protection of foreign nationals had failed to prevent the recurrence of xenophobic incidents.
The latest move by the National Assembly represents a significant diplomatic response from Nigeria’s legislature amid continuing concerns over the treatment and safety of Nigerians living and doing business in South Africa.
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