Xenophobia: NASS directs boycott of legislative activities organised by South Africa

The National Assembly has halted all official trips to South Africa and called for a boycott of legislative events held or organized by the country until further notice. This move comes in response to ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in the nation. The Senate and House of Representatives leadership expressed their worries over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced, and forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes, and other properties in South Africa.

According to a statement from the National Assembly's clerk, Kamoru Ogunlana, the situation has persisted despite repeated appeals from the Nigerian government and other stakeholders urging South African authorities to take decisive action to safeguard Nigerians and foreign nationals. The leadership also recognized the efforts made by the Federal Government and other parties to assist affected Nigerians and help evacuate Nigerian nationals from South Africa.

In light of these developments, the National Assembly has suspended all official visits and participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges, and other activities organized or hosted by South African legislative bodies. Members and officials are instructed not to attend either in person or virtually.

The leadership emphasized that this decision is not meant to damage the long-standing historical, diplomatic, and people-to-people ties between Nigeria and South Africa. Instead, it reflects their deep concern for the safety, dignity, and welfare of Nigerians residing and running legitimate businesses in the country. They urged the South African government to take swift and concrete steps to protect Nigerians and other African nationals, curb further xenophobic attacks, investigate reported incidents, arrest those responsible, and bring them to justice.

The leadership also requested that state Houses of Assembly heed the decision and consider implementing similar actions.

The National Assembly leadership assured that they would continue to monitor the situation concerning Nigerians' safety and well-being in South Africa. They added that the suspension and boycott would remain in effect until further notice and could be reviewed as circumstances dictate.