THE Senate has directed its Committee on Foreign Affairs to investigate the renewed wave of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa and submit its findings within two weeks to guide the Federal Government on appropriate diplomatic and policy responses.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South), with lawmakers unanimously condemning the attacks that have resulted in the deaths of several Nigerians and the destruction of their properties.
During today’s plenary, senators expressed concern over the recurring violence, with Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) urging President Bola Tinubu to consider severing diplomatic ties with South Africa if the attacks persist. He argued that Nigeria could no longer remain passive while its citizens continued to be targeted.
“We can’t pretend those killed are not Nigerians. We are representing Nigerians. We can’t continue condemning these attacks without taking meaningful action,” Ningi said, adding that Nigeria’s foreign policy should be reviewed in light of the situation.
Ningi also noted that more than 1,200 Nigerians were being repatriated from South Africa as fears over safety continued to grow. However, his proposal to cut diplomatic relations was not adopted by the Senate.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) also called for stronger measures, suggesting that Nigeria should appropriate the profits of South African companies operating within the country and channel the funds toward compensating Nigerian victims of xenophobic attacks.
According to Oshiomhole, Nigerians should not continue to suffer while South African businesses generate substantial profits in Nigeria without consequences for the repeated attacks on Nigerian citizens.
Presiding over the session, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin appealed for restraint, urging lawmakers to allow the Foreign Affairs Committee to complete its investigation before any far-reaching decisions were taken.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s leadership position on the African continent required it to respond responsibly and based on verified facts.
Following Barau’s intervention, Senator Ningi agreed to withdraw his motion calling for an immediate severance of diplomatic ties while requesting that the Senate records reflect that the proposal had been formally moved and seconded.
At the conclusion of the debate, the Senate mandated the Committee on Foreign Affairs to investigate the recurring attacks and submit its report within two weeks. The findings are expected to form the basis for recommendations to the federal government on the most appropriate course of action.
The Senate’s resolution comes amid renewed xenophobic violence in South Africa following a June 30 ultimatum reportedly issued by citizen groups demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country. The protests have been accompanied by looting, violence, and attacks on foreign nationals, resulting in deaths and heightened insecurity.
The unrest has prompted several African countries, including Nigeria, to begin repatriating citizens who no longer feel safe in South Africa.
Earlier, the federal government warned that it could activate unspecified measures if attacks targeting Nigerians continue.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government condemned the killing of two Nigerians, describing the incident as part of an alarming pattern of hostility against law-abiding Nigerian residents.
The ministry warned that the continued targeting of Nigerians was unacceptable and insisted that South African authorities must guarantee their safety.
It further stated that if the attacks persist, Nigeria is prepared to consider all available options in protecting its citizens and responding to what it described as an unacceptable pattern of intolerance and discrimination.
