Nigeria’s Senate has resolved to set up a joint ad hoc committee with the House of Representatives to address the rising wave of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, signaling a shift toward intensified diplomatic engagement rather than economic retaliation.
The proposed committee, to be led by the leadership of the National Assembly of Nigeria, is expected to embark on a fact-finding and diplomatic mission to South Africa. Lawmakers said the delegation will engage directly with the Parliament of South Africa to formally convey Nigeria’s “strong displeasure” over the reported attacks and explore lasting solutions to the crisis.
As part of the broader response, the Senate also plans to write to the Speaker of the South African Parliament while inviting Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to brief lawmakers on ongoing diplomatic engagements and their outcomes. The move comes amid mounting concern over the safety of Nigerians abroad and calls for more structured bilateral action.
The upper chamber further endorsed a resolution by Simon Lalong urging a review of agreements reached during the 2019 Nigeria–South Africa bilateral meeting, with lawmakers pushing for full implementation of previously agreed safeguards.
Tensions rose briefly during deliberations when Adams Oshiomhole proposed the revocation of operational licences of South African companies, including MTN and MultiChoice. However, the proposal was declined on procedural grounds, underscoring divisions within the chamber on how best to respond.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized diplomacy over economic retaliation, noting that engagement remains the preferred pathway. He stated that the Senate views the attacks as serious and would “address the matter with the urgency it deserves.”
The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by Bassey, titled: “Intensifying Xenophobic Persecution of Nigerians in South Africa and Ghana: A Call for Urgent National, Diplomatic and Humanitarian Action to Defend the Dignity, Safety and Honour of Nigerian Citizens.”
Debate over the motion also exposed procedural disagreements, as Adamu Aliero called for a closed-door session, a move immediately opposed by Abdul Ningi and other lawmakers who insisted on open deliberations.
Lawmakers across party lines expressed deep concern not only about physical attacks but also the growing climate of fear, psychological trauma, and what they described as the systematic profiling of Nigerians abroad based on nationality. The Senate concluded proceedings by observing a minute of silence in honour of Nigerians who have lost their lives in xenophobic incidents in South Africa.
