NIGERIAN LAWMAKERS BOYCOTT SOUTH AFRICA LEGISLATIVE EVENTS OVER XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS
Nigeria's National Assembly has suspended official visits to South Africa and will boycott South African hosted legislative events over continuing concerns about xenophobic attacks against Nigerians. State Houses of Assembly have also been urged to consider similar action.
Nigeria's National Assembly has suspended official visits to South Africa and announced a boycott of legislative conferences, seminars and other engagements organised or hosted by the South African parliament, citing continuing concerns over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians.
The decision applies to members of the Senate and House of Representatives, National Assembly committees, officials and staff, and will remain in force until further notice.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, announced the decision in a statement, saying lawmakers were increasingly concerned by reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon businesses, homes and investments in South Africa.
According to the National Assembly, reports of attacks have continued despite appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and prosecute those responsible.
BOYCOTT COVERS PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL EVENTS
Following consultations between the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives, the National Assembly resolved to suspend all official visits to South Africa and participation in South African organised legislative engagements.
The restriction covers conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other programmes organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.
Lawmakers and officials are also prohibited from participating virtually in affected programmes. fileciteturn0file0L35-L37
The National Assembly said the action was prompted by continuing concerns over the safety and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting business in South Africa.
LAWMAKERS STOP SHORT OF ECONOMIC RETALIATION
The boycott follows previous debates within the National Assembly over how Nigeria should respond to attacks against its citizens.
In May, the Senate condemned reported attacks and proposed sending a delegation led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to engage South African authorities.
During the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole called for stronger economic measures, including consideration of the operating licences of South African businesses in Nigeria.
The Senate did not adopt the proposal, with lawmakers instead favouring diplomatic engagement.
The issue resurfaced in July when Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun proposed nationalising some South African businesses in Nigeria and using the proceeds to compensate Nigerian victims.
That proposal was also rejected. fileciteturn0file0L42-L56
NIGERIA SAYS 1,490 CITIZENS WERE EVACUATED
The dispute comes after Nigeria completed the voluntary evacuation of about 1,490 citizens from South Africa in July.
The first group arrived in Lagos in June, while a final evacuation flight brought another 305 Nigerians from Johannesburg.
Some returnees cited concerns about anti immigrant protests and attacks, while others reported difficulties renewing their South African residence permits.
South African authorities, however, said some of those returned were undocumented migrants, reflecting differing positions between the two governments over the circumstances surrounding some of the returnees.
Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, subsequently said at least 98 Nigerians had been killed in xenophobic attacks in South Africa since 2022.
NIGERIA SAYS BOYCOTT IS NOT A DIPLOMATIC BREAK
Despite the decision, the National Assembly stressed that the boycott should not be interpreted as an attempt to damage the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and South Africa.
Ogunlana said the measure was instead intended to demonstrate concern about the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.
The National Assembly called on the South African government to take urgent measures to prevent further attacks, investigate reported incidents, arrest suspects and prosecute those found responsible.
STATE ASSEMBLIES URGED TO JOIN BOYCOTT
Nigeria's state Houses of Assembly have also been encouraged to consider adopting similar measures against legislative programmes organised or hosted by South Africa.
The National Assembly said it would continue monitoring developments concerning Nigerians in South Africa before deciding when the suspension should be reviewed.
The boycott will remain in effect until further notice and may be reconsidered depending on developments surrounding the safety and welfare of Nigerians in the country.
