The National Assembly has suspended official visits to South Africa and ordered a boycott of South African-hosted legislative engagements over continuing xenophobic violence against Nigerians and other African nationals.
The leadership of Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official visits to the Republic of South Africa and directed lawmakers and officials to boycott South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities until further notice.
The decision was taken in response to continuing reports of xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation, destruction of property and other forms of hostility against Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, conveyed the decision of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Ogunlana said the decision reflected the National Assembly’s grave concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerian citizens living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.
The suspension applies to official visits by lawmakers, National Assembly committees, officials and staff.
It also covers participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other activities organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities, including virtual engagements.
“In view of these developments and following consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the National Assembly has resolved to suspend all official visits to the Republic of South Africa and to boycott South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities and engagements until further notice,” Ogunlana said.
The National Assembly expressed particular concern over reports that Nigerians and other African nationals had been killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, homes, investments and other properties amid recurring violence.
The federal legislature called on the South African Government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals and prevent further attacks.
It also urged South African authorities to thoroughly investigate reported incidents, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable in accordance with the law.
The decision comes amid renewed anti-migrant tensions in South Africa. The South African government has maintained that violence and intimidation against foreign nationals are illegal and has said perpetrators of such acts would face prosecution.
The National Assembly, however, stressed that the suspension and boycott were not intended to undermine the longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and South Africa.
Rather, it described the action as a strong expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living in South Africa.
The suspension and boycott will remain in force until further notice and will be subject to review by the leadership of the National Assembly as circumstances warrant.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
