Cape Town, South Africa – Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening strategic relations with South Africa, with a particular focus on infrastructure development and capacity building in the mining sector.
This declaration was made by Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, during the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town on Monday.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed that Nigeria has drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at collaborating with South Africa on the certification and capacity building of Nigerian mining professionals, including geologists. She emphasized Nigeria’s readiness to explore new avenues of cooperation in areas such as co-financing infrastructure projects and enhancing the global competitiveness of mining professionals.
The ministerial session, co-chaired by Odumegwu-Ojukwu and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Roland Lamola, serves as a precursor to the presidential session scheduled for Tuesday. Presidents Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa will lead discussions on critical issues of collaboration between the two nations.
Key areas of discussion at the BNC include trade and investment, political consultations, defense and security cooperation, energy, manufacturing, and social sector partnerships. This year’s session is particularly significant as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Bi-National Commission, which was established to strengthen relations between Africa’s two largest economies.
In her remarks, Odumegwu-Ojukwu underscored the strategic importance of Nigeria-South Africa relations, highlighting their shared destiny as key economic players on the continent. “The BNC promises a bright future for our relations, and we must approach it with zest and faith. Together, we shall win for our respective countries and for Africa,” she said.
Lamola stressed the need to expand trade relations, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), and called for increased investment in infrastructure development. “We must increase investment and trade relations to higher levels. Identifying bankable projects, particularly in infrastructure, should be a key priority,” he stated.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s historical support for South Africa during its anti-apartheid struggle, Lamola acknowledged the longstanding diplomatic ties between the two nations, which have grown over the past three decades. He also emphasized the importance of joint efforts to promote global peace, dialogue, and reform in international institutions like the United Nations. Lamola highlighted that South Africa’s upcoming G20 presidency in 2025 will prioritize African developmental issues.
The Nigerian delegation included officials from various ministries, such as Defence, Industry, Trade and Investment, Agriculture, Communication, and Women Affairs, as well as the Comptroller-Generals of Immigration and Customs.