The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to stop participating in legislative engagements organised or hosted by South African authorities.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the spokesman for the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi.
According to the statement, the decision was taken by the leadership of the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.
The statement said the move was prompted by concerns over reports of continued xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property involving Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
It said the National Assembly was particularly disturbed by reports that some Nigerians had been killed, injured, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses, homes and investments.
“Of particular concern to the National Assembly is the persistence of these incidents despite repeated appeals by the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders to the South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators of xenophobic violence to justice,” the statement said.
The directive covers physical and virtual engagements, including parliamentary conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, exchanges and other legislative activities organised, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative institutions.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The statement further directed that existing invitations, arrangements and proposed programmes involving official visits or legislative engagements in South Africa should be reviewed.
It added that no National Assembly delegation, committee, lawmaker, official or staff member would be permitted to participate in such activities during the suspension without the express approval of the leadership.
The National Assembly had earlier condemned renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa and supported diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the situation.
The latest directive will remain in force until further notice, although the leadership may review it depending on developments.
The lawmakers stressed that the suspension should not be interpreted as a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people ties with South Africa.
The statement said, “While parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation remain important, they must rest on mutual respect and a shared commitment to protecting life, property and lawful enterprise.”
