Nigeria’s Parliament Sends Delegation To South Africa Over Xenophobic Attacks, Threatens Sanctions

Nigerian lawmakers plan visit to South Africa over attacks on Nigerians, seeking safety guarantees and warning of possible sanctions. The National Assembly on Tuesday escalated its response to the resurgence.

Nigerian lawmakers plan visit to South Africa over attacks on Nigerians, seeking safety guarantees and warning of possible sanctions.

The National Assembly on Tuesday escalated its response to the resurgence of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa and Ghana, resolving to dispatch a high-powered joint ad hoc committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to engage authorities in Pretoria and push for concrete safeguards for Nigerian citizens.

The decision which followed an intense debate in the Senate signals a shift toward direct parliamentary diplomacy even as lawmakers demanded tough sanctions against perpetrators and warned of looming diplomatic fallout if the violence persists.

The ad hoc committee, to be led by the leadership of the National Assembly, is mandated to undertake a fact-finding and diplomatic mission to South Africa, where it will interface with the South African Parliament and relevant authorities to formally convey Nigeria’s displeasure and negotiate lasting solutions to the recurring attacks.

As part of its assignment, the delegation is also expected to assess compliance with past bilateral agreements, particularly resolutions reached during a 2019 Nigeria–South Africa engagement, with a view to ensuring their full implementation.

The Senate further resolved to formally communicate with the Speaker of the South African Parliament ahead of the visit, while also inviting Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to brief lawmakers on ongoing diplomatic efforts and outcomes of high-level engagements already initiated by the executive arm.

The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance on the “Intensifying Xenophobic Persecution of Nigerians in South Africa and Ghana,” which drew widespread condemnation across party lines.

liberation struggle, with Senator Victor Umeh reminding colleagues of the sacrifices made by Nigerians between the 1960s and 1990s to support the anti-apartheid movement.

“Nigerians stood at the forefront—workers, students, civil servants and traders—committing resources and goodwill to secure South Africa’s freedom. What we see today is a betrayal of that shared history,” he said.

Beyond diplomatic engagement, the Senate adopted a series of far-reaching resolutions aimed at strengthening protection for Nigerians abroad.

It called on the federal government to initiate structured, high-level dialogue with authorities in South Africa and Ghana to secure enforceable guarantees for the safety and dignity of Nigerian citizens.

The chamber also demanded a transparent and independent investigation into all reported incidents, insisting that perpetrators and their sponsors must be identified and prosecuted without delay.

In addition, lawmakers advocated the establishment of a comprehensive protection framework for Nigerians in the diaspora, including early warning systems, coordinated evacuation plans, enhanced legal and diplomatic support, and emergency response mechanisms.

They further urged regional bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Union to adopt stricter enforcement and accountability measures to deter xenophobic violence and uphold citizens’ rights across borders.

For victims, the Senate called for immediate humanitarian assistance, including temporary shelters, legal aid, trauma care and, where necessary, evacuation coordinated by relevant government agencies.

To ensure sustained oversight, the Senate mandated its Committees on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs to conduct a detailed investigation into the recurring attacks and report back with actionable recommendations.

In a symbolic gesture, lawmakers observed a minute of silence in honour of Nigerians who have lost their lives in the attacks.

Reaffirming its stance, the Senate declared that the safety and dignity of Nigerians anywhere in the world remain non-negotiable, stressing that the newly constituted ad hoc committee would play a critical role in halting the cycle of violence and restoring confidence in regional solidarity.