SA, Nigeria agree to strengthen relations
Heads of state will now meet as part of the Bi-National Commission
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma announced on Tuesday that as part of efforts to strengthen relations with key trading partner Nigeria, he and his counterpart Muhammadu Buhari had decided to elevate the Bi- National Commission ( BNC) between the two countries to the level of heads of state.
At the end of official talks in Abuja, Zuma said: “We have recognised the important role played by the South Africa-Nigeria Binational Commission since its inception in 1999. As we forge a strategic partnership between the two sister nations, we have decided to elevate the BNC to the level of heads of state.”
Zuma is on a two-day state visit to Nigeria and is being accompanied by various ministers, as well as a business delegation.
He hailed discussions as “very fruitful” and said they had reviewed various bilateral and multilateral issues.
“We have noted with satisfaction the ever-growing co-operation in many sectors including trade and investment, defence and security, immigration matters, energy, mineral resources, to mention but a few.
“Our two countries have signed over 30 bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding. These agreements cover a wide range of co-operation areas including trade and industry, transport, energy, defence and security and immigration among others.”
Zuma said he and Buhari had directed the relevant ministers to move with speed in implementing all signed agreements.
“We have also directed our ministers to identify joint projects in the key high impact strategic development areas, which will have socio- economic benefits such as employment creation for our peoples.”
Nigeria is South Africa’s key trading part- ner on the continent.
Prior to 1999, there were only four South African companies in Nigeria, but since 1999, this had changed dramatically, with more than 120 South African companies currently doing business in Nigeria in various sectors, mainly telecommunications, banking, retail, property, entertainment and hospitality.
“We welcome this significant development. We also see great potential in boosting tourism between the two countries,” Zuma said.
According to Statistics SA, an average of 4 000 Nigerians travelled to South Africa on a monthly basis last year.
Zuma pointed to the fact that in order to promote South Africa as a tourist destina- tion in both the vast Nigerian market and in the West African region as a whole, a Tourism Office was opened in Lagos in January 2014.
“We also encourage South Africans to tour Nigeria so that we can improve understanding and the appreciation of one another’s culture and way of life,” he said.
Zuma said both countries were committed to creating an enabling environment to ease the manner of doing business and added that he and Buhari had also exchanged views on the current regional political, economic and security situation.
“With regard to continental developments, we discussed issues relating to peace and security on the continent.
“We noted with great concern the chal- lenges posed by terrorism and extremist groups that continue to affect some of our countries on the continent, including Nigeria. We condemn in the strongest possible terms all forms of terrorism and extremism.
“During our discussions, we reiterated the need for joint regional and continental efforts towards countering these negative elements.”
Zuma is being accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Maite Nkoana- Mashabane, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies, Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane.