The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and resolved to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by the country until further notice, citing continuing reports of xenophobic attacks and hostility against Nigerians and other African nationals.
The decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon businesses, investments, homes and other properties amid recurring violence.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the leadership said it was deeply concerned about the situation.
It noted that repeated appeals by the Federal Government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators to justice had failed to stop further reports of attacks.
The National Assembly also acknowledged the Federal Government’s intervention, including efforts to assist affected Nigerians and facilitate the return 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 hosted or organised by South African legislative authorities.
It also covers physical participation in South African-hosted legislative programmes as well as participation through virtual or online platforms.
The leadership directed the Clerk to communicate the decision to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff to ensure strict compliance.
The suspension will remain in force until further notice and will be subject to review by the National Assembly leadership as circumstances warrant.
Wider government response
The National Assembly’s decision follows months of renewed reports of hostility towards African migrants in South Africa and a series of measures by the Nigerian government.
In June, Nigeria began evacuating citizens from South Africa following renewed reports of xenophobic attacks.
The first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on June 11, with subsequent evacuation flights bringing back additional returnees.
By July 9, the number of Nigerians evacuated had risen to about 1,000.
The Federal Government said Nigerians who voluntarily registered, were screened and cleared would be assisted to return home safely.
The repatriation exercise continued beyond the initial evacuation phase.
In August, 83 Nigerian returnees arrived in Lagos following renewed attacks, while another 67 returned a week later.
The returnees were received by government agencies for documentation, profiling and reunification with their families.
Diplomatic pressure
Nigeria has also continued to press South Africa to take concrete measures to address the attacks.
In July, the Federal Government urged South African authorities to tackle recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians, while Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa said the government had begun documenting businesses and properties abandoned by returning Nigerians as part of efforts to explore possible compensation.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently raised the issue at the African Union, calling for collective action and urging the continental body to place xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027.
Vice President Kashim Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s opposition to the mistreatment of Nigerians and other African nationals, while stressing that Nigeria remained committed to dialogue and peaceful engagement with South Africa.
The National Assembly, however, said its decision was not intended to undermine the longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people ties between Nigeria and South Africa.
Rather, it described the suspension as an expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.
It called on the South African government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals, prevent further xenophobic attacks, investigate reported incidents, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable in accordance with the law.
The National Assembly also urged state Houses of Assembly to take note of the decision and consider similar measures where appropriate.
It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens abroad and said it would continue to monitor developments concerning the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.
