The National Assembly on Friday said it is suspending all official visits to South Africa and boycotting legislative activities hosted by Pretoria, citing recurring xenophobic attacks that have killed, injured and displaced Nigerians and other African migrants.
The move, announced in a statement signed by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, follows months of escalating hostility toward African nationals in South Africa and repeated appeals by Abuja for stronger protection of foreign residents.
The suspension applies indefinitely to all official travel to South Africa by senators, members of the House of Representatives, committee officials and National Assembly staff.
It also covers participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings and legislative exchanges organised or hosted by South African authorities, as well as virtual or online participation in South African‑hosted legislative programmes.
The boycott will remain in force “until further notice” and is subject to review as circumstances warrant, the statement said.
The National Assembly said it was “particularly concerned” by reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon businesses, investments, homes and other property in South Africa.
It noted that despite repeated calls by the federal government and other stakeholders for an end to the violence, attacks have continued. In a recent parliamentary briefing, a House committee chairman said at least 98 Nigerians have been killed since 2022 in mob attacks, hate‑related violence and alleged extrajudicial killings in South Africa.
The National Assembly stressed that the suspension is not intended to undermine longstanding historical, diplomatic and people‑to‑people ties between Africa’s two largest economies.
Instead, it described the measure as a “strong expression of concern” over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and doing business in South Africa.
Lawmakers in the upper and lower chambers called on Pretoria to take “urgent and concrete measures” to protect Nigerians, prevent further attacks, investigate reported incidents, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable.
