President Cyril Ramaphosa will host the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari for a State Visit this Thursday.
This will be first incoming State Visit to be hosted by South Africa under the sixth administration.
“South Africa and Nigeria share sound political, economic and social relations that were formally established in 1994, immediately after South Africa’s first democratic elections. Formal relations have been conducted through a Bi-National Commission (BNC), established in 1999 as a structured bilateral mechanism to provide for political, economic, social, cultural, scientific and technical cooperation,” reads a statement from the office of the presidency.
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The State Visit will also mark the 20th anniversary of the BNC which was elevated in 2016 to be presided over at Heads of State level.
The BNC has over the years recorded remarkable achievements, and provides a useful platform for enhancing bilateral relations, notably on the economic front.
There is a significant footprint of South African companies currently doing business in Nigeria in various sectors, mainly in telecommunications, banking, retail, hospitality, mining, tourism, agriculture and construction and tourism.
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Ramaphosa will be supported by the Ministers of International Relations & Cooperation,Defence & Military Veterans, Minerals & Energy; Trade & Industry; Police; State Security and Home Affairs.
