Nigeria's National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed its lawmakers and officials to boycott any legislative activities hosted or organised by that country, effective immediately. The decision, announced in a statement signed by Kamoru Ogunlana, clerk to the National Assembly, follows ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
98 Nigerians Killed Since 2022
The scale of the crisis has been documented by Nigerian authorities. In July, Sola Enikanolaiye, Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, revealed that official records show 98 Nigerians have been killed in mob and hate-related attacks in South Africa since 2022. Recent months have seen intensified attacks and destruction of property affecting Nigerians and other African nationals, drawing widespread condemnation.
Ogunlana said the National Assembly leadership was "gravely concerned" about the continuing reports of violence against Nigerians and other Africans in the country. The suspension is a direct response to these escalating incidents.
Scope of the Boycott
The resolution applies to all official visits by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials, and staff. Crucially, it extends to virtual activities, meaning online participation in South Africa-organised legislative engagements is equally prohibited. This comprehensive measure ensures no official interaction occurs through any channel.
Ogunlana is expected to formally communicate the resolution to senators, members of the House of Representatives, all committees, departments, directorates, officials, and staff to ensure full compliance. The directive is binding across all branches of the legislature.
Protest Action, Not Severance
Despite the severity of the measure, the clerk stressed that the decision was not intended to damage or undermine the "longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations" between Nigeria and South Africa. The National Assembly framed the suspension as a protest action rather than a permanent severance of ties between the two countries.
The move signals Nigeria's firm stance against xenophobic violence while leaving room for future diplomatic engagement. The suspension remains in effect until further notice, with implementation expected to begin immediately across all legislative activities.
