Kehinde Fajobi
President Bola Tinubu will travel from France to Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday to co-chair the 11th Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
A statement by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, on Sunday, December 1, revealed that the presidential session, scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, will be preceded by a ministerial meeting on December 2 at the South African Parliament in Cape Town.
Tinubu and Ramaphosa will hold extensive talks on bilateral, regional, and global matters, building on their discussions during Tinubu’s visit to Johannesburg in June 2024.
The meeting will also assess progress since the 10th BNC session held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021.
Discussions will cover eight key areas: political consultations, consular and migration issues, banking and finance, defence and security, manufacturing, social sector, mines and energy, and trade and investments.
The high-level talks will also see both nations sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.
Established in 1999, the Bi-National Commission promotes high-level dialogue and cooperation in areas such as trade, security, and diplomacy.
The first Heads of State session took place in 2019 in Pretoria. This year’s event marks the 25th anniversary of the BNC, underscoring the enduring partnership between the two nations.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by governors, ministers, and senior officials. He is expected to return to Nigeria after the meeting concludes.