The Senate has raised the alarm over renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, threatening that Nigeria might reconsider its diplomatic relations with Pretoria if the violence against its citizens continued.
The upper chamber also ordered a fresh investigation into the attacks and directed relevant government agencies to seek firm assurances from the South African government on the safety of Nigerians living and doing business in the country.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, who drew the attention of lawmakers to reports of a June 30, 2026 ultimatum issued to Nigerians residing in South Africa.
During the debate, senators condemned the recurring attacks, describing them as unacceptable and demanding urgent intervention by the Nigerian Government.
Senator Salihu Mustapha (Kwara Central) urged the Nigerian government to adopt a tougher diplomatic posture towards South Africa.
“We cannot continue to fold our arms while Nigerians are being killed and their businesses looted,” Mustapha said. “This is the starting point for a very robust engagement. I suggest we sever all diplomatic relationships with South Africa.”
The debate, however, took a different turn when former Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, cautioned against hasty conclusions, arguing that the attacks could be linked to broader political efforts to destabilise the South African government.
Recalling Nigeria’s support for liberation movements during the anti-apartheid struggle, Abdullahi said the situation required careful handling.
“This is a coordinated effort to destabilise the government of South Africa and to remove the ruling party, the ANC, from office,” he said.
According to him, “There is an attempt from the right wing of White South Africans and now coming up from the Black ones to delegitimise the government as quickly as possible. We should tread with great caution and carefully consider this conspiracy.”
Abdullahi also decried the poor funding of Nigeria’s foreign missions, saying the development had weakened the country’s capacity to protect its citizens abroad.
Following deliberations, the Senate adopted resolutions mandating the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, to obtain written guarantees from the South African authorities on the safety of Nigerians and ensure the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of the attacks.
The Senate further directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria to compile a comprehensive record of Nigerians affected by the attacks, including those killed, injured, displaced, unlawfully detained, or whose properties were destroyed, with a view to pursuing compensation and legal redress.
The Senate’s demand for compensation is being made in the backdrop of recent rejection of compensation for the victims by the South Africa government
Many Nigerian citizens had abandoned their businesses, homes, and properties while fleeing renewed xenophobic attacks in the former apartheid enclave.
In a reaction for compensation for the affected Nigerians, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, had dismissed the demand, stating that the government will not issue payouts for abandoned properties.
Ntshavheni had insisted that only officially registered, legal assets can be sold on South Africa’s property market, while structures in informal settlements are considered illegal and ineligible for compensation.
Furthermore, the minister challenged the Nigerian government to assist in locating alleged drug operations operated by foreign nationals, especially Nigerians within South Africa.
Obviously worried by the development, the Nigerian Senate urged the Federal Government to collaborate with other African countries and the African Union to establish an early warning and accountability mechanism aimed at preventing future xenophobic violence across the continent.
As part of its resolutions, the Senate mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs to review the implementation of its May 5, 2026 resolution on xenophobic attacks as well as existing bilateral agreements between Nigeria and South Africa.
The committees are expected to turn in their report within two legislative weeks.
Tension heightened during the debate when Senator Abdul Ningi proposed that President Bola Tinubu should initiate steps towards severing diplomatic ties with South Africa if the attacks persisted.
Similarly, Senator Adams Oshiomhole suggested that profits generated by South African-owned companies operating in Nigeria should be appropriated and used to compensate Nigerian victims of xenophobic violence.
“We can’t allow our people to suffer while South African investments and profits are being taken away here,” Oshiomhole said. “The facts are self-evident. We don’t need further investigation.”
However, the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, urged restraint and prevailed on Ningi and Oshiomhole to withdraw their proposals pending the outcome of the Senate committees’ investigation.
“Let the Committee on Foreign Affairs investigate first,” Barau said. “Nigeria leads Africa. We need to lead by example. Once we have well-informed facts, then we can take action. If this report is not satisfactory to this chamber, then we take the line you are taking.”
Ningi subsequently withdrew his proposal but requested that the Senate records reflect that the motion had been formally moved and seconded.
The Senate also reflected on Nigeria’s historic role in the anti-apartheid struggle, stressing that while the country remains committed to democracy and stability in South Africa, it has a duty to safeguard the lives and interests of Nigerians living abroad.
