South African President, Jacob Zuma, says his government will do everything possible to ensure that the monies confiscated by South Africa during Goodluck Jonathan’s regime are returned to Nigeria.

Mr Zuma made the promise while addressing reporters after bilateral talks with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

For over two hours President Buhari and the South African President discussed several issues aimed at deepening the relationship between the two countries.

They also reviewed the over 30 bilateral agreements the two countries had signed over the years.

President told the reporters that the Nigerian and South African governments were working on the matter and that the relevant structures were already recovering some of the loots.

Th South African leader also told reporters that investigations were ongoing to ensure that anything that was illegally taken to South Africa would be returned.

South Africa and Nigeria have good bilateral relations, and strong historical ties dating back from the years of the liberation struggle, but issues of xenophobia is threatening this relationship.

The South African President described xenophobic attacks recorded in his country as ‘unfortunate’, promising to address it ones and for all.

“Africans should realise that they are the same and should avoid conflicts and attacks on each other,” he stressed.

The Nigerian leader also addressed reporters, touching different issues.

On the fine imposed on a South African company in Nigeria, MTN, President Buhari says the Federal Government was worried about the security implication of incident and not the fine imposed.

According to the President, several lives could not have been lost if the MTN carried out the instructions by the regulatory body.

He, however, expressed joy that the South African company had agreed to pay the fine imposed on them.

President Buhari also emphasised the continent’s quest for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, saying “Africa deserves a place in the Security Council seat of the United Nations”.

He also sympathisesd with South Africans on the unfortunate building collapse that claimed some lives in Lagos and promised to do all to consolidate the relations between the two countries.

The South African leader is in Nigeria for a two-day state visit.

He is expected to address the National Assembly later on Tuesday.

Both leaders will also address the South Africa Business Forum before the end of the visit.

In President Zuma’s delegation are the Minister of Trades and Industry, Rob Davies, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister for Energy, Tina Joemat-Peterson, Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Zuma.

Update news