President Bola Tinubu will depart France on Monday for Cape Town, South Africa, to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The BNC meeting, 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.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to Onanuga, the two leaders will engage in comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, spanning bilateral, regional, and international matters.
“Building on commitments made during their June 20, 2024, meeting in Johannesburg, shortly after President Ramaphosa’s inauguration for a second term, the two leaders will review progress since the 10th BNC session held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021,” the statement read.
The 11th BNC session will cover eight key areas of focus through working groups: political consultations, consular and migration issues, banking and finance, defense and security, manufacturing, the social sector, mining and energy, and trade and investment.
During the high-level meeting, officials from both countries will also sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements.
Established in 1999, the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission seeks to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The first Heads of State-level session was held in Pretoria in October 2019.
The BNC serves as an important platform for fostering high-level dialogue and promoting cooperation in vital areas such as diplomacy, trade, security, and the economy.
This year’s session is especially significant, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Commission, underscoring the enduring partnership between Nigeria and South Africa.
Onanuga further noted that President Tinubu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including state governors, ministers, and senior government officials. After the BNC meeting, he is expected to return to Nigeria.
Since Wednesday, President Tinubu has been in France for a state visit, where he met with President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday and witnessed the signing of various agreements between the two nations.
