Nigeria has expressed its readiness to deepen strategic ties with South Africa, significantly in infrastructure improvement and capability constructing within the mining sector.
This dedication was declared on Monday by Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s minister of state for overseas affairs, through the opening of the eleventh session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-Nationwide Fee (BNC) in Cape City.
Addressing the ministerial session, Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed that Nigeria has ready a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate with South Africa on the certification and capability improvement of Nigerian mining geologists and different professionals within the sector.
“Nigeria is ready to discover new vistas of cooperation with the Republic of South Africa in numerous fields. Aside from exploring alternatives in co-financing infrastructure tasks that profit our economies, we’re searching for collaboration in enhancing the worldwide competitiveness of our mining professionals,” she said.
The session, co-chaired by Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Roland Lamola, South Africa’s minister of worldwide relations and cooperation, serves as a precursor to the presidential session on Tuesday.
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President Bola Tinubu and Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s President, are anticipated to collectively lead discussions on essential areas of collaboration.
Discussions on the BNC cowl commerce and funding, political consultations, consular and migration issues, defence and safety cooperation, banking, vitality, manufacturing, and social sector collaborations.
This yr’s session is especially important because it marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the Bi-Nationwide Fee, established to strengthen ties between Africa’s two largest economies.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu underscored the strategic nature of Nigeria-South Africa relations, highlighting their shared future as main economies on the continent.
“The BNC guarantees a shiny future for our relationships, and we should method it with zest and religion. Collectively, we will win for our respective international locations and for Africa,” she stated.
Lamola emphasised the necessity to broaden commerce relations, significantly underneath the African Continental Free Commerce Settlement (AfCFTA).
He famous that the massive dimension of each economies necessitates stronger financial collaboration.
“We should enhance funding and commerce relations to increased ranges. Figuring out bankable tasks, significantly in infrastructure improvement, must be a key precedence”, Lamola said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s historic assist for South Africa’s anti-apartheid battle, Lamola praised the long-standing diplomatic ties between the 2 nations, which have grown over the previous three a long time.
He additionally known as for joint efforts to advertise peace and dialogue globally, expressing concern over regional conflicts and advocating for reforms in worldwide establishments just like the United Nations.
Lamola added that South Africa’s upcoming G20 presidency in 2025 would prioritize African developmental points.
Nigeria’s delegation to the ministerial assembly included officers from numerous ministries, reminiscent of Defence, Trade, Commerce and Funding, Agriculture, Communication, and Ladies Affairs, alongside the Comptroller-Generals of Immigration and Customs.