Nigeria

Nigeria, South Africa agree to issue 10-year visa to businessmen, others

Saturday, October 05, 2019 at 8:18 AM by Nkem Ikeke

- An agreement has been reached between South Africa and Nigeria on the issuance of 10-year visas to businessmen, academics and frequent travelers

- The agreement was reached during a meeting co-chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari and President Cyril Ramaphosa

- The decision will encourage more people-to-people contacts among Nigerians and South Africans

Following the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to South Africa, Nigeria and the former apartheid country have reached an agreement on issuing 10-year visas to businessmen, academics and frequent travelers.

The senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Friday, October 4, said the agreement was reached following the successful conclusion of the 9th Bi-National Commission of South Africa and Nigeria meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, which was elevated to the level of heads of state.

This is the first time President Muhammadu Buhari and his South African colleague, President Cyril Ramaphosa, will preside since the Bi-National Commission was elevated.

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Both countries took the decision to encourage more people-to-people contacts among its nationals and also strengthen socio-cultural, economic and political relations.

At the meeting, the two African leaders agreed to re-establish the consular forum, which is a structured arrangement where both governments meet regularly, at least twice in a year, to discuss welfare of citizens.

Minutes of the 9th session of Bi-National Commission was signed by Nigeria's minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and South Africa's minister of international relations and cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor.

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Legit.ng had earlier reported that President Buhari called on South African authorities to open up its economy for more Nigerian businesses and also design policies that favour investments from Nigeria. According to him, Nigeria has given South African companies unfettered access to its market and protection with enabling laws.