The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers, officials and staff to boycott legislative activities organised or hosted by South African authorities until further notice.
The decision was contained in a statement issued by the House of Representatives spokesman, Akin Rotimi, on Friday.
According to the statement, the directive followed concerns over continued reports of xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
The National Assembly expressed particular concern over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured and displaced, with some forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties.
The leadership of the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, directed the Clerk to communicate the decision to all senators, members, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff.
The directive covers official visits to South Africa as well as 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.
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 National Assembly said no lawmaker, committee, official or staff member would be allowed to participate in any affected engagement during the suspension without the prior approval of its leadership.
It also directed that all existing arrangements, invitations and proposed programmes involving official visits or legislative engagements in South Africa be reviewed.
The lawmakers said the decision was necessary because the reported attacks had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and prosecute perpetrators of xenophobic violence.
The latest move follows an earlier condemnation by the National Assembly of renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa and its support for diplomatic efforts to address the situation.
The National Assembly stressed that the suspension did not amount to a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relationship with South Africa.
It said parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation remained important but must be based on mutual respect and a commitment to protecting lives, property and lawful businesses.
The suspension will remain in force until further notice and may be reviewed by the leadership of the National Assembly depending on developments.
