Xenophobia: NASS cancels South Africa trip

In contrast to its recently planned trip to South Africa over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, the Senate has announced the cancellation of the trip.
Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at Wednesday’s plenary, revealed this ‎after about 30 minutes closed-door session of the upper chamber.
He said that the lawmakers reached the decision to withdraw from the trip following the insistence of the House of Representatives to send a separate delegation to South Africa.
“On our trip to South Africa to engage our colleagues in their parliament regarding xenophobia, we noted that the House Representatives insisted on going to South Africa independently.
“We thought we could send a single delegation of the National Assembly to avoid the unnecessary embarrassment of multiple delegations.
“In the circumstance, the Senate decided to pull out of the trip and allow the delegation of the House of Representatives to proceed. We wish them safe trip and good luck,” he said.
It will be recalled that the senate had while condemning the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa on Feb. 28, resolved to send a delegation to South Africa’s parliament on the issue.