Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers and officials to boycott legislative events hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice.
The decision was announced in a statement issued by the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, on Friday.
“The Leadership of the National Assembly, led by H.E. Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, President of the Senate, and Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to communicate to all Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, Committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff the decision of the National Assembly to suspend all official visits to the Republic of South Africa and boycott South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities and engagements until further notice,” the statement read.
The directive follows concerns over reports of continued xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and property destruction targeting Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
According to the National Assembly, it was particularly concerned by reports that Nigerians had been killed, injured or displaced, with some forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties.
“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,” he stated.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
What the Suspension Covers
The directive applies to official visits involving lawmakers, committees, officials and staff of the National Assembly.
It also covers conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative activities organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities.
The suspension applies to both physical and virtual engagements.
The National Assembly said no official delegation, committee, lawmaker, official or staff member may participate in any such activity during the suspension without the prior express approval of its leadership.
The statement read, “For clarity and strict compliance, the directive provides as follows:
“a. All official visits to the Republic of South Africa by the National Assembly, its Committees, lawmakers, officials and staff are hereby suspended;
“b. All participation by the National Assembly, its Committees, lawmakers, officials and staff in legislative activities, conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, exchanges or other engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa or other South African legislative authorities is hereby suspended;
“c. The suspension shall apply to both physical and virtual/online engagements, including invitations to participate in meetings, programmes, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative activities hosted from or by South African legislative institutions;
“d. No official delegation, Committee, lawmaker, official or staff member of the National Assembly shall undertake or participate in any such engagement during the period of the suspension without the prior express approval of the Leadership of the National Assembly; and
“e. All existing arrangements, invitations or proposed programmes involving official visits or legislative engagements in South Africa shall be reviewed in accordance with this directive.”
National Assembly Maintains Diplomatic Ties
The latest move comes after the National Assembly earlier this year condemned renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa and supported diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing violence against Nigerians.
The suspension will remain in place until further notice, although the National Assembly said its leadership could review the decision depending on developments.
The lawmakers also stressed that the measure should not be interpreted as a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relationship with South Africa.
“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,” the statement noted.
