The leadership of the National Assembly in Nigeria has directed the suspension of all official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to boycott legislative activities and engagements hosted or organised by South African legislative authorities until further notice.
The decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen. Blueprint reports
The directive was conveyed to members and officials by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, against the backdrop of continuing reports of xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa, in a statement signed by the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi.
The National Assembly expressed grave concern over reports that Nigerians have been killed, injured, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties as a result of recurring violent attacks.
The lawmakers said the persistence of such incidents was particularly disturbing given repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to South African authorities to take decisive steps to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
The National Assembly stressed that the protection of Nigerian citizens abroad remained an important responsibility of the Nigerian state, particularly where their lives, dignity and legitimate economic interests were under threat.
According to the Clerk, the leadership of both chambers, after consultations, resolved that “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.”
All official visits suspended
Under the directive, all official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff have been suspended.
The decision covers delegations and other official assignments that would ordinarily take members of the National Assembly to the country for parliamentary or legislative engagements.
Existing arrangements, invitations and proposed programmes involving official visits to South Africa are also to be reviewed in line with the new directive.
The National Assembly said the measure would remain in force until further notice, subject to review by its leadership as circumstances warrant.
The boycott also extends to legislative activities organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa or other South African legislative authorities.
This includes conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other forms of legislative engagement.
The directive further applies to both physical and virtual engagements, meaning lawmakers, committees, officials and staff are prohibited from participating in qualifying online meetings or programmes hosted from or by South African legislative institutions.
No official delegation, committee, lawmaker, official or staff member is permitted to participate in any such engagement during the period of the suspension without the prior express approval of the leadership of the National Assembly.
The National Assembly said its action was necessary because it could not ignore persistent attacks against Nigerian citizens abroad.
It said reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced or forced to abandon their livelihoods and property required a parliamentary response.
The legislature described the decision as a “firm, measured response” to threats to the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.
It, however, stressed that parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation remained important, but should be based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to protecting life, property and lawful enterprise.
Despite the boycott, the National Assembly clarified that its decision was not intended to undermine Nigeria’s longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations with South Africa.
Rather, the legislature said the measure was a strong expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians residing and conducting legitimate businesses in the country.
The National Assembly maintained that Nigeria valued its relationship with South Africa and remained committed to constructive diplomatic and parliamentary engagement.
It nevertheless insisted that the safety and legitimate interests of Nigerian citizens must be respected and protected.
The National Assembly urged the South African government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals residing in the country.
It called for thorough investigations into reported incidents of xenophobic violence, the arrest of suspected perpetrators and the prosecution of those found culpable in accordance with the law.
The legislature said protecting law-abiding foreign nationals and bringing perpetrators of criminal attacks to justice were fundamental obligations under the rule of law.
It added that decisive action by the South African authorities would be essential to sustaining confidence and goodwill between Nigeria and South Africa and their respective peoples.
The National Assembly also called on the leadership of State Houses of Assembly across the federation to take note of the decision and consider adopting similar measures.
The call underscores the legislature’s position that the protection of Nigerians abroad should not be limited to the federal parliament but should attract attention across the country’s legislative institutions.
The House of Representatives reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring developments concerning the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.
It also acknowledged interventions by the Federal Government and other stakeholders, including efforts to assist affected Nigerians and facilitate the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa.
The National Assembly said such interventions underscored the seriousness of the situation and the responsibility of Nigerian institutions to safeguard the lives, dignity and legitimate interests of citizens.
The suspension and boycott will remain in effect until further notice, subject to review by the leadership of the National Assembly.