Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and resolved to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by the country over continuing reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals.
The decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives over reports that Nigerians had been killed, injured, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses, homes, investments and other properties amid recurring violence.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the legislative leadership expressed concern that repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect Nigerians and prosecute perpetrators had not stopped further incidents.
The suspension covers official visits by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff.
It also extends to conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other programmes organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.
The boycott applies to both physical and virtual participation in South Africa-hosted legislative programmes.
The Clerk has been directed to communicate the resolution to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff for strict compliance.
The suspension will remain in force until further notice and may be reviewed by the National Assembly leadership depending on developments.
Nigeria’s Wider Response
The National Assembly’s action follows months of renewed hostility towards African migrants in South Africa and a series of measures by the Nigerian government.
Nigeria began evacuating citizens from South Africa in June following renewed xenophobic attacks. The first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on June 11, while subsequent flights brought back additional returnees.
By July 9, about 1,000 Nigerians had reportedly been evacuated.
Further evacuations continued in August, with 83 Nigerian returnees arriving in Lagos, followed by another 67 a week later. Government agencies received the returnees for documentation, profiling and reunification with their families.
The Nigerian government has also increased diplomatic pressure on South Africa to address the attacks.
In July, Nigeria urged South African authorities to take concrete steps to tackle recurring xenophobic violence against Nigerians. Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa also said authorities had begun documenting businesses and properties abandoned by returning Nigerians, with a view to seeking possible compensation.
President Bola Tinubu later raised the matter at the African Union, calling for collective action and urging the body to place xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has also condemned the mistreatment of Nigerians and other African nationals while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to dialogue and peaceful engagement with South Africa.
The National Assembly said its decision was not intended to undermine the longstanding diplomatic, historical and people-to-people ties between Nigeria and South Africa.
Instead, it described the suspension as an expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.
The lawmakers called on the South African government to urgently protect Nigerians and other African nationals, prevent further attacks, investigate reported incidents, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable.
The National Assembly also urged state Houses of Assembly to take note of the decision and said they could consider similar measures.
The development was reported by Channels Television on September 11, 2026.
