NASS to send joint committee to South Africa over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians

The Senate has resolved to constitute a joint ad hoc committee of the National Assembly to undertake a fact-finding and diplomatic visit to South Africa over the rising wave of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians.The delegation, to be led by the Chairman of the National Assembly, will visit the South African Parliament to formally register Nigeria’s displeasure over the attacks and push for lasting solutions to the crisis.

As part of the legislative response, the Senate will write to the Speaker of the South African Parliament and invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs to brief lawmakers on ongoing diplomatic engagements. The chamber also upheld a resolution by Senator Simon Lalong to review commitments made during the 2019 Nigeria-South Africa bilateral meeting and ensure their implementation.

A proposal by Senator Adams Oshiomhole to revoke the operational licenses of South African companies — including MTN and DSTV — was declined on procedural grounds. Senate President made clear that economic retaliation was not the preferred path, stressing that diplomacy remained the Senate’s chosen instrument.The resolutions followed a motion by Senator Bassey on the intensifying persecution of Nigerians in South Africa and Ghana. Lawmakers spoke of not just physical violence but a growing climate of fear, psychological trauma, and nationality-based profiling faced by Nigerians abroad. The Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of those who lost their lives.