Forging stronger African partnerships for a prosperous future, By Fredrick Nwabufo 

These relations have witnessed much more fecundity with President Bola Tinubu main the way in which for broader and stronger African partnerships. President Tinubu has all the time emphasised collaboration and inclusiveness as important substances to reaching international meals safety, addressing collective challenges, and driving innovation throughout a series of pursuits for a extra steady and affluent Africa and the world.

Nigeria and South Africa have a prolific historical past collectively. Nigeria was within the vanguard of the marketing campaign towards apartheid and spearheaded the adoption of the pivotal 1989 UN Declaration on Apartheid and its deleterious corollaries within the nation.

Each international locations formally established diplomatic relations in February 1994, and this yr makes it 30 years for the reason that bilateral relations commenced.

In 1999, the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-Nationwide Fee (BNC), a flagship instrument of constructive and strategic engagement between each international locations, was cast. It’s 25 years of this compact right this moment.

Nigeria and South Africa have maintained strong relations with about 34 agreements and memoranda of understanding presently between each international locations – the 2 largest economies in Africa.

These relations have witnessed much more fecundity with President Bola Tinubu main the way in which for broader and stronger African partnerships. President Tinubu has all the time emphasised collaboration and inclusiveness as important substances to reaching international meals safety, addressing collective challenges, and driving innovation throughout a series of pursuits for a extra steady and affluent Africa and the world.

In a present of excellent fellowship, on 29 Might, 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa attended the inauguration of President Tinubu. President Tinubu returned the go to throughout the inauguration of President Ramaphosa for a second time period in workplace in June. This isn’t solely symbolic for cooperation but in addition for solidarity and comradeship.

The eleventh session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-Nationwide Fee assembly started on 28 November in Cape City, with senior officers, adopted by the ministerial session on 2 December, and the presidential session on 3 December. The assembly between the 2 leaders is going down on the Presidential Workplace, Tuynhuys, Cape City.

The areas of cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa are broad and embody financial, technical, scientific, social spheres, in addition to tourism. South Africa is one in every of Nigeria’s main buying and selling companions, with Nigeria accounting for about 64 per cent of the whole commerce of the Southern African nation with West Africa.

On the assembly, President Tinubu made resounding remarks and recounted the position of Nigeria within the battle towards apartheid in South Africa.

“My enthusiasm for this occasion is born of the storied and proud historical past of the Nigeria–South Africa relationship, which has been robust for the reason that finish of apartheid and the the delivery of true democracy on this nice nation.

“Nigeria’s contributions to that epic battle signify noble and excellent moments in our international coverage and within the evolution of our position as a number one nation on this continent. We did what we needed to do as a result of it was simply and since you are our brothers and sisters who deserved freedom and justice, not the discrimination and suppression to which that horrible, unjust and oppressive system subjected this wonderful folks.

“Nigerians from all walks of life mobilised in unison with the illustrious folks of this nation out of a agency conviction that apartheid was an evil to be swept method not one thing that must be countenanced and legitimised by means of inaction or half measures.

“It was for us a historic duty that we discharged with satisfaction and dedication. As was anticipated, our efforts put Nigeria on a collision course with some highly effective international locations. Nigeria is proud to have shared the burdens of her brothers in South Africa throughout such important instances.

“That is the essence of the brotherhood we look for this continent; to remain facet by facet, shoulder to shoulder for liberation, nondiscrimination and for democratic good governance in help of the most effective and legit aspirations of the folks. Simply as we stood with you, we will all the time bear in remembrance how South Africa was with us at important moments of our battle towards navy rule,” the President mentioned.

The President additionally emphasised the indubitability of cooperation, stating thus: “We should make sure that the spirit of collaboration and cooperation between our two main international locations in Africa will intensify and deepen beneath our management of our respective nations. This isn’t a matter of alternative however of a future that features a historic duty that we owe the African folks.”

Whereas highlighting the numerous memoranda of understanding signed between Nigeria and South Africa, President Tinubu sounded a notice of warning, saying: “Allow us to not rely our successes by the variety of MoUs and agreements signed. They are going to be mere papers till we implement them. That is the job of our senior officers and I have to implore them to redouble their efforts on this regard.”

The President didn’t fail to deal with the considerations within the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa. He mentioned persistent irritants within the relations between each international locations have to be handled appropriately.

President Tinubu additionally relayed Nigeria’s curiosity to affix South Africa and the African Union within the G20 “in order to strengthen the African voice within the group and globally”.

“As South Africa assumes the presidency of the G20, we urge that the place be leveraged for the event of our continent.

“This high-level strategic partnership between South Africa should change into a mannequin of management and shared imaginative and prescient that can encourage and take our folks right into a brighter and better way forward for prosperity and growth, an Africa That We Need,” the President mentioned.

In his remarks, President Ramaphosa underlined the robust bond between Nigeria and South Africa, referred to as for the strengthening of relations.

“We’re two international locations united in function and imaginative and prescient. We are going to stay endlessly grateful to Nigeria for its main position within the worldwide marketing campaign to finish apartheid in South Africa.

“As we mark 30 years for the reason that institution of diplomatic relations, we see a vibrant future for our relationship. Our robust bonds of friendship present a agency basis for extra significant financial cooperation. Nigeria is host to plenty of South African firms.

“South Africa has all the time been open for Nigerian enterprise, mirrored in plenty of investments and operations established on this nation. However there may be way more we have to do. We have to take away the remaining constraints to better funding, simply as we have to handle a few of the challenges that firms have expertise.

“We’re inspired by the actions being undertaken beneath your management to additional strengthen and foster a enterprise atmosphere in Nigeria that provides assurances to traders, together with from South Africa. Our authorities continues with its efforts to enhance the benefit of doing enterprise in South Africa,” President Ramaphosa mentioned.

The strengthening of relations between Nigeria, South Africa, and different African nations betokens stability, peace, and prosperity for Africa. It’s a new order of friendship, collaboration, and progress.

Fredrick Nwabufo is senior particular assistant to the President on Public Engagement.