Tinubu to co-chair Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission

President Bola Tinubu will on Monday leave France for Cape Town, South Africa, to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Before the presidential BNC, scheduled for Tuesday, a ministerial meeting will be held on Monday at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town.

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu and Ramaphosa will engage in substantive talks on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including bilateral, regional and international matters.

Both leaders will review the progress achieved since the 10th session of the BNC held in Abuja from 29 November to 1 December 2021.

The 11th session of the BNC will feature deliberations across eight working groups, each focusing on a specific area of mutual interest. These include political consultations, consular and migration, banking and finance, defence and security, manufacturing, social sector, mines and energy, and trade and investments.

At the high-level meeting, officials of both countries will sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.

The Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission was established in 1999 to further strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

The BNC provides a platform for sustaining high-level dialogue and promoting cooperation in critical areas such as diplomacy, economy, trade, security and other areas of mutual interest.

This year’s meeting is particularly significant as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Commission, a testament to the enduring friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa.

Tinubu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising state governors, ministers, and senior government officials,

He will return to the country after the BNC meeting.