The Senate has directed its Committee on Foreign Affairs to investigate the recent wave of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa, with lawmakers requesting that a report be submitted within two weeks to guide the Federal Government’s response.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South), who expressed concern over the growing violence against Nigerians. Senators unanimously condemned the attacks, which have reportedly claimed lives and led to the destruction of properties belonging to Nigerian residents in South Africa.
During Tuesday’s plenary, the debate grew heated as lawmakers proposed stronger measures against South Africa. Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) urged President Bola Tinubu to consider cutting diplomatic ties with the country if the attacks persist.
According to Ningi, Nigeria can no longer remain passive while its citizens are being killed abroad. He argued that the country’s foreign policy should be reviewed, adding that more than 1,200 Nigerians were already being repatriated from South Africa due to the worsening security situation. However, his proposal to sever diplomatic relations did not receive Senate approval.
Also speaking during the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) suggested that profits generated by South African companies operating in Nigeria, including financial institutions, should be used to compensate Nigerian victims of the attacks.
Oshiomhole maintained that Nigeria should not continue to allow South African businesses to thrive locally while Nigerians are subjected to violence in South Africa, insisting that the available evidence was sufficient to justify action.
Presiding over the session, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin advised lawmakers to await the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Committee’s investigation before taking any major diplomatic steps.
He stressed that Nigeria, as a leading nation on the African continent, must respond responsibly and base its decisions on verified facts. Following his intervention, Senator Ningi withdrew his proposal but requested that the Senate records reflect that the motion had been formally moved and seconded.
At the conclusion of the debate, the Senate formally mandated its Foreign Affairs Committee to investigate the recurring xenophobic attacks and present its findings within two weeks. The report is expected to help lawmakers recommend appropriate diplomatic and policy measures for the Federal Government.
The Senate’s action comes after renewed anti-foreigner protests in South Africa, triggered by a June 30 deadline issued by some groups demanding that undocumented immigrants leave the country. The protests have been accompanied by looting and violent attacks that have left several African nationals dead.
In response to the deteriorating situation, Nigeria and several other African countries have begun evacuating citizens who no longer feel safe remaining in South Africa.