South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled new visa measures to boost travel and strengthen economic ties with Nigeria.
The announcement, made on Tuesday during the 11th Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) meeting in Cape Town, introduces a simplified visa process for Nigerian businesspeople and tourists.
Key reforms include granting five-year multiple-entry visas to eligible Nigerian businesspeople and allowing Nigerian tourists to apply for visas without submitting their passports.
Speaking alongside Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of these measures in fostering stronger bilateral relations.
“Our efforts to create a favourable environment include simplifying the visa process for Nigerian businesspeople traveling to South Africa,” Ramaphosa said. “As we celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations, we see a bright future for our partnership, built on strong bonds of friendship and mutual economic cooperation.”
He highlighted the contributions of Nigerian and South African businesses in both countries, stressing the need to eliminate barriers to investment.
Ramaphosa also praised Nigeria’s reforms aimed at improving its business environment, which he said were crucial for attracting foreign investors, including those from South Africa.
On broader issues, Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s commitment to advancing African development goals, particularly through its support for the African Union’s Agenda 2063. He highlighted the significance of the G20 Leaders’ Summit recently held on African soil, saying it marked a critical step toward advocating for a more inclusive global agenda.
In his part, President Tinubu affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening cooperation with South Africa, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure and mining, signaling further alignment in the nations’ shared goals.
“It was the first time the G20 Leaders’ Summit would be held on African soil. We sought to galvanise support for the AU’s Agenda 2063 as we pursued an inclusive global agenda,” he said.