The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers and officials to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice.

The decision was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi.

According to the statement, the directive was issued by the leadership of the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.

“The Leadership of the National Assembly, led by H.E. Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, President of the Senate, and Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to communicate to all Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, Committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff the decision of the National Assembly to suspend all official visits to the Republic of South Africa and boycott South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities and engagements until further notice,” the statement said.

The decision followed concerns over reports of continued xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.

The National Assembly expressed particular concern over reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties.

It also faulted the persistence of the incidents despite repeated appeals by the Federal Government and other stakeholders to South African authorities to take decisive steps to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and prosecute perpetrators of xenophobic violence.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The suspension covers official visits by lawmakers, committees, officials and staff of the National Assembly, as well as conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities.

The directive applies to both physical and virtual engagements.

The National Assembly further stated that no official delegation, committee, lawmaker, official or staff member may participate in any such engagement during the suspension without the prior express approval of its leadership.

It also directed that all existing arrangements, invitations and proposed programmes involving official visits or legislative engagements in South Africa be reviewed in line with the new directive.

The latest action comes after the National Assembly earlier this year condemned renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa and backed diplomatic efforts to address violence against Nigerians.

The National Assembly said the suspension would remain in force until further notice and could be reviewed depending on developments.

It, however, stressed that the decision did not amount to a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relationship with South Africa.

“While parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation remain important, they must rest on mutual respect and a shared commitment to protecting life, property and lawful enterprise,” the statement added.