Why Nigeria Suspended Official Visits to South Africa

Nigeria’s National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers and officials to boycott South African-hosted legislative activities, escalating pressure on Pretoria over renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians.

The directive, announced by the National Assembly leadership on Friday, September 11, 2026, covers senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, officials and staff. It also extends to parliamentary conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings and exchanges, including virtual engagements organised or sponsored by South African legislative authorities.

But the decision is not a suspension of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

Rather, it is a parliamentary response to what Nigerian lawmakers describe as continued violence, intimidation and destruction of property affecting Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.

What triggered the suspension?

The immediate issue is the renewed wave of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.

According to the National Assembly, reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon businesses, investments and homes have continued despite previous appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to South African authorities.

The lawmakers said they were particularly concerned that perpetrators of xenophobic violence had not been adequately stopped or brought to justice.

The decision comes after months of growing concern in Nigeria.

In May, the House of Representatives called for urgent diplomatic action over attacks that had reportedly killed Nigerian citizens in South Africa. Lawmakers also raised the possibility of evacuating Nigerians facing danger there.

In July, the Senate ordered its Foreign Affairs Committee to investigate the attacks and recommend appropriate responses to the Federal Government. During the debate, some lawmakers even proposed more severe measures, including a possible break in diplomatic relations, although that proposal was not adopted.

The latest suspension therefore represents an escalation, but not a diplomatic rupture.

Nigeria has already raised the issue with Pretoria

The National Assembly’s decision did not come in isolation.

President Bola Tinubu had already taken the issue to the African Union, asking continental leaders to address recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.

Representing Tinubu at an AU summit in Luanda in August, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria would continue to pursue dialogue with South Africa but would not accept the dehumanisation or mistreatment of Nigerians.

The Nigerian government has also taken practical steps to assist citizens who felt unsafe.

Between June and July, the Federal Government said it evacuated 1,490 Nigerians from South Africa through a series of flights following security concerns linked to xenophobic attacks.

That makes the National Assembly’s latest decision significant. It shows that concern over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa has moved from diplomatic complaints into a more visible parliamentary response.

Is Nigeria cutting ties with South Africa?

No.

The National Assembly specifically stated that the suspension does not amount to a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relationship with South Africa.

The lawmakers also acknowledged that parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation remain important.

Instead, the message is that such cooperation cannot continue normally while Nigerian citizens are allegedly being attacked and their livelihoods destroyed.

The suspension will remain in force until further notice, although the leadership can review it depending on developments.

There is also an exception: participation in affected engagements can take place if the National Assembly leadership gives express approval.

This means the measure is better understood as political pressure on South Africa rather than a diplomatic break.

Why the decision matters

Nigeria and South Africa are two of Africa’s most influential economies and political powers.

Their relationship extends beyond government-to-government diplomacy. South African companies operate extensively in Nigeria, while Nigerians have established businesses, professional careers and communities in South Africa.

The two countries also cooperate through the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission, which provides a platform for discussing political, economic and security issues.

That means prolonged tension between Abuja and Pretoria could affect more than parliamentary exchanges.

It could complicate efforts to improve trade, investment, migration management and security cooperation.

The Nigerian government, however, has continued to emphasise dialogue.

Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, said in September that Nigeria intended to seek an African Union-led response to the recurring attacks rather than simply confront South Africa bilaterally.

He also said the issue had become an African problem requiring an African solution.

What happens next?

The National Assembly has not announced a deadline for the suspension.

Instead, the measure will remain until further notice and may be reviewed according to developments in South Africa.

For Pretoria, the latest action from Abuja adds another layer of pressure following repeated diplomatic complaints from Nigeria.

For Nigeria, the challenge will be balancing the protection of its citizens with the economic and diplomatic importance of maintaining relations with South Africa.

The National Assembly has made its position clear: parliamentary cooperation cannot be treated as business as usual if Nigerian citizens continue to face attacks.

The suspension therefore sends a message without closing the door to dialogue.

Whether it becomes a temporary warning or develops into a broader diplomatic confrontation may depend largely on what happens to Nigerians living in South Africa in the weeks ahead.

RELATED: 130 Nigerians sign up for emergency evacuation from South Africa amid rising xenophobia fears