President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart France today for South Africa to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Scheduled for tomorrow, the session will be preceded by a ministerial meeting today at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town.
The session is expected to build on commitments made during the two leaders’ last engagement on June 20, 2024, in Johannesburg.
Deliberations at the event will be conducted through eight working groups focusing on critical sectors, including trade, defence, banking, energy, and migration.
Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga said in a statement yesterday that Tinubu and Ramaphosa will engage in substantive talks on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including bilateral, regional, and international matters.
President Tinubu, who is currently wrapping up a state visit to France, will lead a high-powered delegation comprising governors, ministers, and senior government officials to the conference.
The two presidents will assess the progress made since the 10th BNC session in Abuja in late 2021 and chart a roadmap for further collaboration.
The BNC, established in 1999, has been pivotal in fostering diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and South Africa.
Officials of both nations are expected to sign a Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during the session.
Tinubu will return to Nigeria after the conclusion of the BNC.
The statement by Onanuga reads: “President Bola Tinubu will leave France on Monday for Cape Town, South Africa, to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“The presidential BNC, scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, will be preceded by a ministerial meeting on December 2, 2024, at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town.
“Presidents Tinubu and Ramaphosa will engage in substantive talks on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including bilateral, regional, and international matters.
“Building on the commitments from their June 20, 2024, meeting in Johannesburg shortly after President Ramaphosa’s inauguration for a second term in office, the two leaders will review the progress achieved since the 10th session of the BNC held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 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 first session at the Heads of State level was held in October 2019 in Pretoria.
“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.
“President Tinubu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising state governors, ministers, and senior government officials.
