The South African government has relaxed visa rules for Nigerian visitors and entrepreneurs, allowing them to apply for visas without producing passports.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced this on Tuesday during the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, attended by President Bola Tinubu.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, provided more details in a statement.
According to the statement, President Ramaphosa revealed that South Africa had streamlined its visa processes to facilitate travel for Nigerian businesspeople and tourists, including measures such as five-year multiple-entry visas.
“Our efforts to create a favourable environment include simplifying the visa process for Nigerian businesspeople travelling to South Africa. Eligible Nigerian businesspeople can now receive a five-year multiple-entry visa,” he said.
He also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to addressing barriers to increased investment and resolving issues faced by companies in both countries.
“As we celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations, we envision a bright future for our partnership. Our strong bonds of friendship provide a solid foundation for deeper economic collaboration.
“Nigeria is home to several South African companies, and South Africa has always been open to Nigerian businesses, as evidenced by the number of investments and operations established here.
“However, more needs to be done. We must eliminate the remaining obstacles to greater investment and address challenges encountered by companies,” President Ramaphosa stated.
He also recognised the Nigerian government’s reforms aimed at enhancing a business-friendly environment and providing assurances to investors, including those from South Africa.
“Our government remains committed to improving the ease of doing business in South Africa. We aim to enable investors to operate, trade, and explore opportunities across various sectors.
“We look forward to seeing more Nigerian companies investing in South Africa,” the President added.
The South African leader further highlighted that Africa’s development and the challenges facing countries in the Global South would feature prominently on the G20 agenda.
