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By Gloria Ikibah

The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to boycott legislative activities hosted or organisednat by South African legislative authorities until further notice.

The decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives amid continuing reports of xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.

The directive was issued by the leadership of the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.

In a communication conveying the decision, Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the legislature was concerned by reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties following recurring violent attacks.

According to Ogunlana, following consultations between the leadership of both chambers, “the National Assembly has resolved to suspend all official visits to the Republic of South Africa and to boycott South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities and engagements until further notice.”

The suspension covers official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff.

It also applies to participation in legislative conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, exchanges and other engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by the Parliament of South Africa or other South African legislative authorities.

The directive extends to both physical and virtual engagements, including online meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other programmes hosted by South African legislative institutions.

No official delegation, committee, lawmaker, official or staff member is permitted to participate in such engagements during the suspension without the prior express approval of the National Assembly leadership.

Existing arrangements, invitations and proposed programmes involving official visits or legislative engagements in South Africa are also to be reviewed in line with the directive.

The National Assembly said it was particularly concerned that reports of attacks had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders for the South African authorities to take decisive action to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators to justice.

It acknowledged efforts by the Federal Government and other stakeholders to assist affected Nigerians and facilitate the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa, describing such interventions as an indication of the seriousness of the situation.

The legislature said that, as the institution constitutionally representing Nigerians, it could not ignore persistent attacks against Nigerian citizens abroad.

It said reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and property warranted a parliamentary response.

The National Assembly described the decision as a firm but measured response to threats to the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians.

It stressed that while parliamentary diplomacy and inter-legislative cooperation remained important, such relations must be founded on mutual respect and a shared commitment to protecting life, property and lawful enterprise.

The decision, according to the statement, does not undermine Nigeria’s longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations with South Africa. Rather, it is “a strong expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.”

The National Assembly urged the South African Government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals, prevent further xenophobic attacks, investigate reported incidents, arrest suspected perpetrators and prosecute those found culpable.

It said the protection of law-abiding foreign nationals and prosecution of those responsible for criminal attacks were fundamental obligations under the rule of law and necessary to sustain confidence and goodwill between Nigeria and South Africa.

The National Assembly also urged the leadership of State Houses of Assembly across the country to take note of the decision and consider similar action.

The House of Representatives reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad and said it would continue to monitor developments concerning the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.

While reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to its longstanding relationship with South Africa and constructive diplomatic and parliamentary engagement, the legislature maintained that the safety, dignity, welfare and legitimate interests of Nigerian citizens must be respected and protected.

The suspension and boycott will remain in force until further notice, subject to review by the leadership of the National Assembly as circumstances warrant.

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Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded the new logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on its official website.

The commission also updated the party’s leadership, placing Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe as the National Chairman of the NDC, while Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu is listed as National Secretary.

This followed an order of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which ordered the electoral body to recognise and use the NDC’s modified digital “two-finger” logo as its official symbol for elections.

The judgment, delivered by Justice J.O. Abdulmalik, followed a suit filed by the NDC after INEC allegedly removed the party’s modified logo from its system and restored an older association logo.

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The NDC said its National Executive Committee approved the modified logo at its March 25, 2026, meeting and subsequently forwarded it to INEC.

According to the party, INEC initially uploaded the new logo but later removed it without providing any valid reason and reinstated the old logo.

The party said it gave the commission enough time to resolve the matter administratively before approaching the court.

In the judgment, the court ordered INEC to “forthwith approve” the NDC’s modified logo, including its symbol and colours, for use by the party “for all purposes as a political party,” including all elections conducted by the commission.

The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining INEC from stopping or interfering with the NDC’s use of the digitally designed two-finger victory sign.

The NDC described the ruling as a victory for the party and thanked the judiciary for its intervention.

The party has consequently directed all its candidates and members to use only the approved logo on campaign materials, including banners, posters and other publicity materials.

It acknowledged that some members and candidates may have already produced campaign materials bearing the old logo, adding that it regretted any inconvenience caused.

The NDC said it would intensify public sensitisation to ensure that its candidates, members and supporters use the approved logo going forward.

“We assure our supporters and candidates that there is nothing to worry about. We are in this together,” the party said.

The upload at the INEC portal included Mr John Odey as National Treasurer, while Mainasara Abubakar Sani is the National Financial Secretary. Similarly, Reuben Egwuaba is listed as the party’s National Legal Adviser.

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A submission by Dr. Abasi suggesting that women who have more sex may have a lower risk of breast cancer has drawn attention, but the claim requires careful interpretation.

Speaking on women’s reproductive health, Dr. Abasi argued that sexual activity, particularly when it results in orgasm, could have beneficial effects on a woman’s health. He linked orgasm to the release of oxytocin and suggested that the hormone could potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer.

He also used the discussion to challenge the tendency of society to blame women for infertility, stressing that infertility can involve both male and female factors.

“It’s unfair that our society blames infertility on women,” he said, maintaining that responsibility for infertility should not automatically be placed on women.

However, the suggestion that more sex directly protects women against breast cancer is not established medical fact. While sexual activity and orgasm cause temporary hormonal and physiological changes, there is no established recommendation from major cancer-health authorities that women should have more sex as a breast-cancer prevention strategy.

Breast-cancer risk is influenced by several factors, including age, family history and inherited genetic mutations, reproductive and hormonal factors, alcohol consumption, body weight and physical activity. Some risk factors cannot be changed, while others can be modified through lifestyle choices.

Dr. Abasi also touched on childbearing and reproductive health, suggesting that women who have never had children may face increased risks of some reproductive cancers.

Medical evidence does show that reproductive history can influence breast-cancer risk, but this should not be interpreted to mean that women must have children—or have sex—to protect themselves from cancer.

For women, established preventive measures include maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding tobacco, knowing one’s family history and following age- and risk-appropriate breast-cancer screening recommendations.

The discussion therefore highlights an important distinction between a biological hypothesis and proven cancer prevention.

While sex and orgasm may have physical and psychological benefits, there is currently insufficient evidence to tell women that having more sex—or reaching orgasm—is a proven way to prevent breast cancer.