The 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) began on Monday in Cape Town, South Africa, with a ministerial meeting aimed at reviewing bilateral progress and finalizing agreements.
The meeting, co-chaired by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Roland Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, sets the stage for Tuesday’s presidential BNC, where Presidents Bola Tinubu and Cyril Ramaphosa will lead discussions.
Key Agendas:
The commission is focused on advancing cooperation in several critical sectors, including:
- Trade and Investment
- Defence and Security
- Consular and Migration Matters
- Energy, Banking, and Manufacturing
- Social Sector Development
Participants:
Nigeria’s delegation includes Ministers of State across portfolios such as Defence, Women Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investments, Agriculture and Food Security, and Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy. The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service and South African officials were also present.
This year’s BNC coincides with the 25th anniversary of the framework designed to strengthen relations between the two leading African economies.
The presidential session will highlight opportunities to deepen ties and address shared challenges, reaffirming the significance of the Nigeria-South Africa partnership.
