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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
In order to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) with President Cyril Ramaphosa, President Bola Tinubu will depart France on Monday and travel to Cape Town, South Africa, the Presidency has announced.
He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising state governors, ministers, and senior government officials.
On December 2, 2024, a cabinet meeting will take place at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town ahead of the presidential-level BNC, which is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu and President Ramaphosa will engage in substantive talks on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including bilateral, regional, and international matters.
The statement further noted that building on commitments made during their meeting on June 20, 2024, in Johannesburg, shortly after President Ramaphosa’s inauguration for a second term, the two leaders will review progress achieved since the 10th session of the BNC, held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021.
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During the 11th session, eight working groups, each focusing on a particular area of shared interest, will hold discussions. These areas include trade and investment, manufacturing, the social sector, mining and energy, banking and finance, defence and security, political relations, consular and migration issues.
At the high-level meeting, officials from both nations are expected to sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.
The Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission was established in 1999 to further strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The first session at the Heads of State level was held in October 2019 in Pretoria.
The BNC serves as a platform for sustaining high-level dialogue and fostering cooperation in critical areas such as diplomacy, economy, trade, security, and other areas of mutual interest.
This year’s meeting is particularly significant as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Commission, underscoring the enduring friendship and collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa.
The statement concluded that President Tinubu will return to Nigeria after the conclusion of the BNC meeting.
