Nigeria and South Africa have agreed to resolve visa restrictions between both countries. They are in the process of adopting simplified visa processes for business people.

Besides, a meeting of top government functionaries from Nigeria and South Africa in Abuja on Tuesday reaffirmed commitment to strengthen cooperation in the area of trade and investment, defence, energy and people to people exchanges.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, led the countries delegation while Ms. Thandi Moraka of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa led her country?s delegation.

The two countries, according to a communiqu? at the end of the meeting, also agreed to address challenges that hinder greater economic integration.

The political consultation was meant to strengthen the longstanding bonds of friendship, cooperation, solidarity between the two countries and pursuant to the decision to adopt and sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Political Consultations during the 10th Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Abuja, Nigeria in December 2021.

?In terms of the Liberalization of Visa Restrictions, it was noted that both countries are in the process of adopting simplified visa processes for businesspeople to remedy persisting visa-related challenges?.

The two Ministers also welcomed ?the finalization of the MoU on the Early Warning Mechanism, seeing it as a transformative tool in addressing consular and migration issues. They emphasized that effective implementation of the MoU is crucial to strengthening coordination, streamlining the movement of people and goods between the two countries, thereby contributing to social, cultural, technical, scientific, tourism, and private business sector growth.?

The communiqu? also stated: ?Both sides acknowledged that the cultural exchanges between the two countries remain strong. Nigeria and South Africa cooperate in the film industry through an official Audio-Visual Cooperation Agreement, signed in 2021. This agreement facilitates co-production, skills transfer, investment, and joint promotion of their audio-visual sectors. Collaborations include sharing technical expertise, shooting on location in both countries, and joint participation in industry events.

?In the area of Transport, it was noted with satisfaction that the MoU between South Africa and Nigeria on the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) was signed on 17 January 2025 in Johannesburg.?

The parties also discussed ?the MoU on Standards and Standardization between the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) that could not be signed in Cape Town during the BNC held in 2024. It was agreed that it would be signed in March, 2025?. (The Guardian)

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