By James Adamu
Nigeria’s National Assembly has pulled the plug on official engagements with South Africa, suspending all visits and boycotting legislative events hosted by that country until further notice.
The decision, announced Thursday, was reached by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, and communicated to lawmakers and staff by Clerk to the National Assembly Kamoru Ogunlana. House spokesman Akin Rotimi issued a statement confirming the move.
At the heart of the decision is a familiar grievance: Nigerians in South Africa have been killed, injured and driven from their homes and businesses in a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks. The Assembly said the violence has continued despite repeated pleas from Abuja and other stakeholders for Pretoria to act.
“Official visits to the Republic of South Africa are suspended,” Ogunlana said, “and all South African-hosted or organised legislative activities are to be boycotted until further notice.”
The freeze is broad. It covers trips by the Assembly, its committees, members and staff, and extends to conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary exchanges and any other engagement arranged, hosted or sponsored by South African legislative bodies. Virtual meetings and online programmes are included.
Already-scheduled invitations and programmes will now be reviewed against the new directive.
The Assembly was careful to frame the move as targeted rather than a rupture. It said the decision does not damage Nigeria’s long-standing diplomatic and people-to-people ties with South Africa, describing it instead as “a firm, measured response to threats to Nigerians’ safety, dignity and welfare.”
Lawmakers are demanding that Pretoria protect Nigerians and other African nationals, investigate reported incidents, arrest suspects and prosecute those found responsible. They also asked State Houses of Assembly across the country to consider taking similar steps.
The suspension stands until further notice and may be reviewed as circumstances change.
Thursday’s action reflects mounting frustration in Abuja over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa, even as the Assembly insisted it remains open to constructive diplomatic and parliamentary engagement — provided Nigerian citizens are safe and their interests respected.
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