Nigeria's parliament halts all official engagement with South Africa
Nigeria's House of Representatives has halted every official and virtual engagement by the National Assembly with South Africa over continuing attacks on Nigerians; Akin Rotimi announced the measure. The decision covers lawmakers, committees, officials and staff. Abuja's reported deaths and the large gap between the two countries' counts of migrants sent home have pushed the safety of Nigerian citizens directly into the bilateral relationship.
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Parliament suspends all official engagement
Nigeria's House of Representatives suspended every official engagement between the National Assembly and South Africa. The measure covers visits by parliamentary committees, lawmakers, officials and staff, as well as virtual meetings. Lower-house spokesman Akin Rotimi announced the decision on Friday and said parliament could not disregard persistent attacks on citizens abroad. Punch Newspapers separately confirmed that the National Assembly had stopped official visits to South Africa.[1], [2]
Attacks on citizens prompted the decision
Parliament linked its action to months of anti-migrant violence in South Africa. Nigeria's Foreign Ministry says at least 98 Nigerians have been killed there since 2022 in mob attacks, hate-related violence and extrajudicial killings. Two of those deaths occurred in June 2026. National Assembly clerk Kamoru Ogunlana said lawmakers were particularly concerned by reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses.[1]
Migrant return totals are also disputed
Anti-migrant mobilisation has driven tens of thousands of foreigners out of South Africa, but the parties do not agree on how many people were sent home. South African authorities put the number repatriated or deported at almost 90,000. Migrants' home countries report a total of about 178,000. The ban on visits and virtual meetings announced by Akin Rotimi has extended the dispute over citizens' safety across the entire parliamentary relationship.[1]
