NIGERIA
and South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make it
unnecessary for nationals of both countries holding official or diplomatic
passports to acquire visa before travelling to either country.
and South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make it
unnecessary for nationals of both countries holding official or diplomatic
passports to acquire visa before travelling to either country.
The MoU was signed on Tuesday between
President Goodluck Jonathan and his host, President Jacob Zuma, during a closed
door bilateral session between the two leaders in the South African president’s
office in Cape Town.
President Goodluck Jonathan and his host, President Jacob Zuma, during a closed
door bilateral session between the two leaders in the South African president’s
office in Cape Town.
Other MoU signed between the two countries
were on cooperation in legal field, oil and gas sector, power sector development,
environment, defence cooperation, women development and empowerment, as well as
child development.
were on cooperation in legal field, oil and gas sector, power sector development,
environment, defence cooperation, women development and empowerment, as well as
child development.
There were also bilateral agreements on
geology, mining, mineral processing and metallurgy and fields of information
and communication technology.
geology, mining, mineral processing and metallurgy and fields of information
and communication technology.
The two leaders also agreed on the need for
stronger cooperation in other sectors, including economic, social and political
development on the African continent.
stronger cooperation in other sectors, including economic, social and political
development on the African continent.
Speaking after the meeting, Zuma observed
that Jonathan’s visit to South Africa had generated a lot of interest,
excitement and optimism among its citizens in view of the historic relations
between the two leading economies in Africa.
that Jonathan’s visit to South Africa had generated a lot of interest,
excitement and optimism among its citizens in view of the historic relations
between the two leading economies in Africa.
“We have a duty to take this historic
relationship further. Our two countries have already grown very warm bilateral
relations structured through the bi-national commission that was officially
inaugurated in 1999,” he said.
relationship further. Our two countries have already grown very warm bilateral
relations structured through the bi-national commission that was officially
inaugurated in 1999,” he said.
The South African president observed with
delight that over 100 South African companies were already doing businesses in
Nigeria with the biggest investment being in the telecommunication sector.
delight that over 100 South African companies were already doing businesses in
Nigeria with the biggest investment being in the telecommunication sector.
He spoke of the plan for the country to
expand into other areas such as engineering, construction, banking, oil and the
media, noting the need for both countries to promote people to people
relationship, especially through tourism, which he said had generated huge
foreign direct investments for the country.
expand into other areas such as engineering, construction, banking, oil and the
media, noting the need for both countries to promote people to people
relationship, especially through tourism, which he said had generated huge
foreign direct investments for the country.
“Last year alone, South Africa received a
total of 73,282 Nigerian tourists, which is an 13.8 per cent increase from
2011, contributing about 720 million Rands to the South African economy within
the period,” Zuma revealed.
total of 73,282 Nigerian tourists, which is an 13.8 per cent increase from
2011, contributing about 720 million Rands to the South African economy within
the period,” Zuma revealed.
In his remarks, Jonathan noted that the
signing of nine bilateral agreements between the two countries was a major
achievement that would enhance the critical role of Nigeria and South
Africa in transforming the continent.
signing of nine bilateral agreements between the two countries was a major
achievement that would enhance the critical role of Nigeria and South
Africa in transforming the continent.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan has stressed
the need for African leaders to give the fullest possible attention to the
economic emancipation of their countries now that they have successfully
liberated the continent from colonialism, racism and apartheid.
the need for African leaders to give the fullest possible attention to the
economic emancipation of their countries now that they have successfully
liberated the continent from colonialism, racism and apartheid.
Addressing the South African Parliament
during his state visit, the President advised the leaders make building strong
economies and strengthening democratic governance their topmost priority.
during his state visit, the President advised the leaders make building strong
economies and strengthening democratic governance their topmost priority.
According to him, “On the 25th of this
month, Africa will be celebrating the golden jubilee of the Organization of
African Unity, now the African Union. As we take stock of the achievements of
our continental organization, it is also appropriate that we reflect and decide
where our continent should be in the next fifty years.
month, Africa will be celebrating the golden jubilee of the Organization of
African Unity, now the African Union. As we take stock of the achievements of
our continental organization, it is also appropriate that we reflect and decide
where our continent should be in the next fifty years.
“That destination has to be a democratic
and united Africa that is at peace with itself and can compete with the rest of
the world,” Jonathan said.
and united Africa that is at peace with itself and can compete with the rest of
the world,” Jonathan said.
The president noted that Africa has emerged
as the new frontier for trade and investment in the world, added that African
leaders must rise to the challenge of managing the new opportunities presented
by this situation for the benefit of their peoples and countries.
as the new frontier for trade and investment in the world, added that African
leaders must rise to the challenge of managing the new opportunities presented
by this situation for the benefit of their peoples and countries.
Furthermore, he said: “There is certainly a
lot more that we can do. We must work together to put an end to the
exploitation and exploration of Africa’s resources for export without any value
added; African countries must transform from being primary sources of raw
material into producers to create jobs and opportunities for our people.
lot more that we can do. We must work together to put an end to the
exploitation and exploration of Africa’s resources for export without any value
added; African countries must transform from being primary sources of raw
material into producers to create jobs and opportunities for our people.
“We must check the loss of Africa’s trained
manpower to already developed countries. We must work together, to promote
trade and investment among our countries and build trans-national
infrastructure in such critical sectors as trade, telecommunications, and
transportation in order to fast-track the process of people-centred,
continental integration.
manpower to already developed countries. We must work together, to promote
trade and investment among our countries and build trans-national
infrastructure in such critical sectors as trade, telecommunications, and
transportation in order to fast-track the process of people-centred,
continental integration.
Source: Tribune
