“Protect Nigerians, Prosecute Attackers” — National Assembly Suspends Legislative Engagements With South Africa

— Orders Lawmakers To Boycott Legislative Engagements
The National Assembly has suspended all official legislative visits to South Africa and directed Nigerian lawmakers to boycott South African-hosted or organised legislative activities over renewed xenophobic attacks and threats against Nigerians and other African nationals in the country.
The decision followed reports of renewed violence, intimidation and anti-immigrant protests in South Africa, during which demonstrators reportedly demanded that foreign nationals leave the country.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, on Thursday, September 10, the joint leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives said the suspension would apply to “all official visits” to South Africa as well as participation in “South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities and engagements” until further notice.
The National Assembly said the decision reflected its “grave concern for the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerian citizens abroad.”
It called on the South African government to take urgent and concrete steps to protect Nigerians and other African nationals, investigate reported attacks, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable.
According to the statement, the suspension and boycott will remain in force until further notice and will be reviewed by the leadership of the National Assembly as developments unfold.
The action comes amid renewed concerns over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa. The report said about 1,490 citizens had been repatriated amid the unrest, while some Nigerians were said to have suffered attacks, property losses and difficulties relating to their residency status.
Nigerians were also among foreign nationals affected during previous major outbreaks of xenophobic violence in 2008, 2015 and 2019, when Nigerian-owned businesses were attacked and deaths and injuries were recorded.
The report further said Nigerian officials had stated that at least 98 Nigerians had been killed in xenophobic attacks since 2022.
The Federal Government had earlier condemned the renewed attacks, commenced evacuation arrangements for affected Nigerians and summoned South African officials for discussions.
During bilateral talks in Abuja in July, Nigerian officials demanded stronger guarantees for the safety of citizens in South Africa, while the South African government pledged to prosecute perpetrators and maintained that the violence was not state-sponsored.
Both chambers of the National Assembly had also separately condemned the attacks. The Senate called for stronger protection measures, including written safety guarantees and justice for victims, while the House of Representatives sought an investigation into the attacks and losses suffered by Nigerians in South Africa.
The post “Protect Nigerians, Prosecute Attackers” — National Assembly Suspends Legislative Engagements With South Africa appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.