BREAKING: National Assembly Suspends South Africa Trips, Orders Legislative Boycott

• The National Assembly has suspended official visits to South Africa and participation in its legislative events over reported xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers, officials and staff to boycott legislative engagements hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice.

The decision follows concerns over reports of continued xenophobic attacks, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in the country.

House of Representatives spokesman, Akin Rotimi, announced the directive in a statement on Friday, saying it was issued by the National Assembly leadership under Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.

“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.

According to the statement, the legislature was particularly troubled by reports of Nigerians being killed, injured and displaced, with others forced to abandon their businesses, investments and homes.

“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,” he stated.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The suspension covers official trips by lawmakers, committees, officials and staff, as well as participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings and parliamentary exchanges organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities.

Both physical and virtual engagements are affected.

“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 move follows the National Assembly’s earlier condemnation of renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa and its support for diplomatic efforts to protect Nigerians living there.

The legislature said the suspension would remain in force until further notice, with any review dependent on developments.

It clarified that the decision did not represent a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic ties or the relationship between the people of both countries.

“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 noted.