President Muhammadu Buhari has said that a strong bond between Nigeria and South Africa would be of immense benefit to Africa as a catalyst for economic, technological, social and cultural development as well as a force for peace and security on the continent.
The president stated this yesterday when he received the South African president, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa at the opening of the 10th Session of Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Abuja.
Spokesman for the president, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari in a statement as saying that Nigeria and South Africa need to strengthen people-to-people relations to prevent unhealthy competition among their citizens.
He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to improving a “special relationship’’ with South Africa, which will translate into gains for the continent, particularly in education, science, trade and investment, tourism and security.
“Mr. President, permit me to state that some of the challenges identified during the last Bi-National Commission (BNC) have not been completely addressed. We need to ensure that our people-to-people relations are enhanced to a point where there would be no need for unhealthy competition.
“In this regard, we need improvement in educational and scientific cooperation, mines and energy resources, transport and aviation, tourism, youth exchange programmes, trade and investment and military cooperation, to mention but a few.”
“Let me at this point re-iterate my commitment to ensure that the special relationship between our two countries is continually strengthened,” he added.
President Buhari said it was fulfilling that despite all the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the BNC was still holding on schedule.
“It is also gratifying to observe that this has been brought about by the dogged commitment of senior officials from our countries.
“More importantly, it is gratifying to note that despite the pandemic, our timelines for implementing some decisions of the 9th BNC have been met. “Similarly, discussions are ongoing on new and important areas of cooperation between our two countries,” he said.
He also remarked that the agreement on Early Warning Mechanism would “improve the people-to-people relations of our two countries.”
The president commended the South African leader for initiating the Nigeria–South Africa Youth Dialogue which he (Buhari) also endorsed.
“Similarly, our two countries have established high level official communication channels for diplomatic consultations, trade and investment and will, shortly, inaugurate the Nigeria-South Africa Youth Dialogue.
“I am confident that these vehicles of engagement and cooperation will serve our mutual interests.
“I hope that beyond being a vehicle for mutual learning and understanding by our youth, it would also foster the kindred spirit of humanity towards others as prescribed in the great South African traditional philosophy of Ubuntu. That would lay a solid foundation for the realization of the Africa that we want,” he said.
Later at a joint press conference, Buhari said new memoranda of understanding between the two countries in diverse areas were signed while existing ones were reviewed for the progress and prosperity of citizens of both countries.
“Despite the scare generated by the new COVID-19 variant, we have been able to hold successful meetings, while observing strict COVID-19 protocols, through fraternal cooperation and understanding.
“I sincerely wish to thank my brother and colleague, President Cyril Ramaphosa for honouring my invitation. I equally wish to thank members of the South African delegation and the experts that worked tirelessly during the Senior Officials Meeting.
“Today, has witnessed the signing of new memoranda of understanding between Nigeria and South Africa in diverse areas including Youth Development, Women and Child Empowerment and Political Consultations; critical areas that will lead to increased people to people contact.
“Also, existing MOUs signed during previous bi-national commission meetings were also reviewed. These include MOUs on military cooperation, power, cooperation in the field of geology, mining, and mineral processing, oil and gas and several others.
“Today, we also jointly launched the Nigeria-South Africa Youth Dialogue, another veritable tool for interaction among our youth with the aim of creating shared values and aspiration. Many of our youth, from Nigeria and South Africa joined us virtually during the launch,” he said.
Buhari in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, added that the inauguration of the joint ministerial advisory council on industry, trade and investment, would enable the private sectors of the two largest economies in Africa to further promote economic cooperation and development.
“We appreciate that we need to do much more to achieve further integration of our two economies and take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
”Once again, I wish to thank my brother President and members of the South African delegation for their visit and their wonderful friendship, cooperation and solidarity,” he said.
In his remarks, Ramaphosa thanked the leaders of Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal for expressing their dissatisfaction with the travel ban imposed on South Africa and sister neighbouring countries in the aftermath of the discovery of the Omicron COVID-19 variant by South African scientists.
He described the imposition of the ban by some western countries as arbitrary, discriminatory, unscientific and unproductive in the long run.
“This is a global pandemic and overcoming it requires that we collaborate and work together as a collective.
“The resulting damage to this travel ban to the economies of the countries affected will be considerable and long lasting.
“So I want to use this opportunity to tell the countries that have imposed this ban to reverse their decisions whether they are the northern more developed economies or in other parts of our continent or elsewhere,” he stated.
