By Anwar Usman
The President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu on Tuesday stated that Nigeria and South Africa share a collective destiny to collaborate for the well-being of the African continent.
He noted the need for both countries to cooperate across various sectors, adding that the success of the partnership lies in the implementation, not merely the signing, of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
Tinubu made this statement during his opening address as he co-chaired the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town, South Africa.
He said, “Our successive governments on both sides have recognised our shared history of collaboration and cooperation. We must ensure that the spirit of collaboration and cooperation between our two leading countries in Africa intensifies and deepens under the leadership of our respective nations. This is not a matter of choice but of destiny, which includes a historical responsibility to the African people.”
The Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission, established in 1999, aims to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The first Heads of State-level session took place in Pretoria in October 2019.
However, Tinubu noted that this year’s meeting coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Commission, and he revealed that Nigeria and South Africa have signed about 36 MoUs that reflect their friendship and cooperation.
He stressed that MoUs alone do not constitute success and must be backed by consistent implementation.
He revealed on strengthening the relationship between the youth populations of both countries, explaining that Nigeria and South Africa, with their large youthful demographics, can significantly boost their economic development.
The President also assured Ramaphosa of Nigeria’s readiness to strengthening the partnership between the two nations and warned against external forces that might be threatened by the alliance between Africa’s two largest economies.
He also urged South Africa’s support for Nigeria’s bid to gain full membership in the G20, BRICS, and the BRICS New Development Bank, adding, “Nigeria would like to join South Africa and the African Union in the G20.”
On his part, the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted Nigeria’s role as a host for several South African companies and reaffirmed his country’s openness to Nigerian businesses, citing numerous investments and operations in South Africa.