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Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to boycott legislative engagements hosted or organised by South African authorities.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson for 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 decision followed concerns over reported 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, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties.
It said the incidents had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to strengthen the protection of Nigerians and other foreign nationals and prosecute those responsible for xenophobic violence.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the directive followed consultations between the Senate and House of Representatives leadership.
Under the directive, all official visits to South Africa by lawmakers, committees, officials and staff have been suspended until further notice.
The suspension also covers conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by the South African Parliament or other legislative authorities in the country.
The National Assembly said the directive applies to both physical and virtual engagements, including invitations to participate in meetings, programmes and parliamentary exchanges hosted by South African legislative institutions. It added that no official delegation, committee, lawmaker, official, or staff member could participate in such activities during the suspension without the prior approval of the National Assembly’s leadership.
Existing arrangements, invitations and proposed programmes involving official visits or legislative engagements in South Africa are also to be reviewed in line with the directive.
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.”
The latest action follows an earlier condemnation by the National Assembly of renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa and its support for diplomatic efforts to address violence against Nigerians.
The National Assembly said the suspension would remain in place until further notice and could be reviewed by its leadership depending on developments. It stressed that the decision did not represent a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people ties with South Africa.
The statement said parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation remained important but should be based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to protecting lives, property and lawful businesses.
