Date Published: 10/31/09

Nigeria, South Africa to sign Visa Exemption Agreement next month

Dimeji Bankole

Nigeria and South Africa are to sign visa exemption for its government officials as part of efforts aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries next month.

 Disclosing this during a dinner at the Parliament of South Africa in Cape Town to mark the end of celebration marking the 10 th anniversary of South Africa –Nigeria Bi-National Commission BNC, Vice President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan said the signing ceremony of the MOU will take place in Abuja when the Vice president of South Africa Hon. Kgalema Motlanthe visits Nigeria on November 13, 2009 under the auspices of the S.Africa-Nigeria BNC.

He said the BNC which has had a chequered history nevertheless made significant progress in the last ten years with 22 out of 33 MOUs signed stressing that the two countries need to work together for the development of Africa as the world looked up to the two for solutions to myriad of problems of Africa continent.

He expressed joy that after a decade the parliaments of both countries are now part of the BNC as not much progress can come in the relations of the two countries without good laws from both parliaments adding that the two parliaments have to cooperate in law making to further cement the relations between the executive arms of government of the two countries.

Also speaking at the occasion Rt.Hon Dimeji Bankole, the Speaker of the House of Representatives said Nigeria and South Africa enjoy long standing relations but regretted that since the establishment of BNC economic relations between both countries has been lopsided in favour of South Africa adding that the two parliaments should work towards enacting laws to redress the inequity.

Bankole also noted the issue of xenophobia among African nations and urged the two countries to work together to address the issue adding that they should also cooperate on diplomatic, consular and economic affairs.

Earlier, the South African Vice President Hon Motlanthe stated that South Africa attached great importance to relations with Nigeria due to the role Nigeria played in the liberation of South Africa from apartheid and other common ties adding that he is visiting Nigeria next month to sign MOU on issues of common interest.

He solicited Nigeria support in the successful hosting of 2010 World Cup in South Africa adding that Ghana has set the pace in winning the FIFA Under 17 World Cup and South Africa is looking forward to do the same for Africa.

In a welcome address, Hon Maxwell Sisulu, the Speaker of South African parliament noted that the BNC has always been between the executive arms of the government adding that from henceforth the BNC will now be invigorated with the participation of the parliament.