- Nigeria-South Africa BNC to Mark 25th Anniversary
- Leaders to Address Trade, Security, and Regional Cooperation
- High-Level Delegation to Sign MoUs in Key Sectors
President Bola Tinubu is set to depart France on Monday for Cape Town, South Africa, where he will co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
President Tinubu, who has been in France since last Wednesday on the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, will lead a high-level Nigerian delegation to the BNC, which will take place on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
In a statement on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the presidential-level talks would be preceded by a ministerial meeting on December 2 at the South African Parliament in Cape Town.
“The 11th session of the BNC will focus on a wide range of bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest,” the statement read. “Building on their commitments from the June 2024 meeting in Johannesburg, Presidents Tinubu and Ramaphosa will review progress made since the 10th BNC held in Abuja in November 2021.”
Deliberations during the session will span eight working groups, tackling areas such as political consultations, trade and investment, defence and security, banking and finance, consular and migration issues, manufacturing, mines and energy, and social sector development.
“The meeting will culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation across these critical sectors,” the statement added.
Established in 1999, the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission serves as a platform for fostering high-level dialogue and collaboration between the two nations. The first Heads of State session was convened in October 2019 in Pretoria. This year’s meeting marks a milestone, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Commission.
The statement emphasized the significance of the Commission in promoting diplomacy, trade, security, and other areas of mutual interest, reflecting the enduring partnership between the two regional powerhouses.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by governors, ministers, and senior government officials as part of his delegation. He is expected to return to Nigeria following the conclusion of the BNC.
