The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice.
The decision was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi.
According to the statement, the directive was approved by the leadership of the National Assembly, led by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.
“The Leadership of the National Assembly, led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, and Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to communicate to all 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 said.
The decision followed growing concerns over reports of continued xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
The National Assembly said it was particularly concerned by reports of Nigerians being killed, injured and displaced, with some reportedly forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other property.
“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 Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Under the directive, all official visits to South Africa by lawmakers, committees, officials and staff of the National Assembly have been suspended.
The boycott also covers conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by the Parliament of South Africa or other South African legislative authorities.
The suspension applies to both physical and virtual engagements, including online meetings and parliamentary programmes hosted by South African legislative institutions.
The National Assembly further directed that no official delegation, committee, lawmaker, official or staff member should participate in any such engagement during the suspension without the prior express approval of the leadership.
“For clarity and strict compliance, the directive provides as follows,” the statement said, listing the suspension of official visits and participation in South African-hosted legislative activities, including physical and online engagements.
It also directed that all existing arrangements, invitations and proposed programmes involving official visits or legislative engagements in South Africa should be reviewed in line with the new directive.
The latest decision follows an earlier condemnation by the National Assembly of renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Lawmakers had also backed diplomatic efforts by the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders to address attacks against Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
The National Assembly said the suspension would remain in force until further notice and could be reviewed by its leadership depending on developments.
However, the legislature stressed that the decision 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 said.
The directive comes amid continuing concerns over the safety of Nigerians living and doing business in South Africa and is expected to place additional pressure on authorities in both countries to address tensions surrounding xenophobia and the protection of foreign nationals
