President Bola Tinubu is expected to depart France on Monday for Cape Town, South Africa, according to his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga revealed that the president will co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) alongside South Africa’s 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,” Onanuga stated.
“President Tinubu and President 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.”
Onanuga also mentioned that officials from both nations would sign multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements during the event.
Established in 1999, the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission aims to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
The first Heads of State-level session was held in October 2019 in Pretoria. The BNC continues to provide a platform for high-level dialogue and collaboration in critical areas such as diplomacy, trade, security, and other shared interests.
