The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to boycott legislative activities organised or hosted by South African authorities until further notice.
The Independent Mirror reports that the decision was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, following growing concerns over reported xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The leadership of the National Assembly, headed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to communicate the directive to all senators, members, committees, departments, directorates and staff.
The National Assembly said it was particularly concerned by reports that Nigerians had been killed, injured, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties as a result of the attacks.
It noted that the reported incidents had continued despite repeated appeals by the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders for South African authorities to take decisive action to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and ensure that perpetrators of xenophobic violence are brought to justice.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the directive followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Under the new directive, all official visits to South Africa by lawmakers, committees, officials and staff have been suspended. The restriction also covers conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities.
The suspension applies to both physical and virtual engagements, including online meetings and parliamentary programmes hosted by or from South African legislative institutions.
The National Assembly further directed that no official delegation, committee, lawmaker, official or staff member may participate in any affected engagement during the suspension without the prior express approval of the leadership of the National Assembly.
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 latest decision follows an earlier condemnation by the National Assembly of renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa and its support for diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing violence against Nigerians.
The National Assembly said the suspension would remain in force until further notice, although its leadership could review the decision depending on developments.
It stressed that the measure should not be interpreted as a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relationship with South Africa.
The lawmakers maintained that parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation remained important but must be based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to protecting lives, property and lawful businesses.
