President Bola Tinubu departed France on Monday, where he has been visiting, to Cape Town, South Africa, to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC).
Tinubu will lead the summit alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
A statement from Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, revealed that the BNC is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, which was preceded by a ministerial meeting on December 2, 2024, at the South African Parliament in Cape Town.
Onanuga explained that both leaders will engage in substantial discussions covering a wide range of topics of mutual interest, including bilateral, regional, and international issues.
Building on the commitments made during their June 20, 2024, meeting in Johannesburg, which followed President Ramaphosa’s inauguration for a second term, they will assess the progress made since the 10th session of the BNC held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021.
The 11th session will also involve deliberations within eight working groups, each dedicated to specific areas of shared interest.
These areas include political consultations, consular affairs and migration, banking and finance, defense and security, manufacturing, social sector initiatives, mining and energy, and trade and investment.
During the high-level meeting, officials from both nations are expected to sign multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.
Established in 1999, the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission aims to enhance the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, Onanuga noted.
The inaugural session at the Heads of State level took place in October 2019 in Pretoria.
Onanuga highlighted that the BNC serves as a vital platform for advancing high-level dialogue and fostering collaboration in crucial areas such as diplomacy, economy, trade, and security.
“This year’s meeting is particularly noteworthy as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Commission, underscoring the lasting friendship and collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa,” he said.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by a distinguished delegation, including state governors, ministers, and senior government officials, and will return to Nigeria following the BNC meeting.
