Cape Town – Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has called for strengthened economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties between South Africa and Nigeria during the Ministerial Meeting of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town on Monday.
Co-chaired with Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the meeting marked 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Lamola highlighted the need to elevate trade and investment, focusing on infrastructure development and leveraging opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“One of the overriding imperatives of our bilateral relations is the need to increase our investment and trade relations to higher levels.
Minister Ronald Lamola co-chairs the Ministerial Meeting of the 11th Bi-National Commission (BNC) with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu today, 2 December 2024 in Cape Town. @DIRCO_ZA @GovernmentZA @NGRPresident @NigeriaGov pic.twitter.com/zAQyS8hXAR
— Shabier Jacobs (@shabierja) December 2, 2024
“The relatively large sizes of our economies logically dictate that our economic collaboration should be yielding much bigger results,” Lamola said.
He added: “Our bilateral trade needs to reflect the enormous potential that is abundant in our countries.”
Lamola also emphasised strengthening people-to-people relations to foster cultural appreciation, tourism, and collaborative ventures in education and the creative industries.
[WATCH] International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola promises his Nigerian counterpart Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu that South Africa will use its G20 presidency to push African developmental priorities. The ministers met today ahead of the Bi-National Commission meeting tomorrow.… pic.twitter.com/kpX4PjsVwx
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 2, 2024
The discussions touched on shared commitments to peace and diplomacy, with Nigeria’s leadership in ECOWAS and South Africa’s upcoming G20 presidency highlighted as key contributions to global governance and African priorities.
Lamola reiterated the importance of reforming the United Nations Security Council to ensure inclusivity and responsiveness.
Concerns over global and regional conflicts underscored the need for collaboration in promoting peace and multilateralism.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will co-chair the 11th Session of the BNC to further these discussions.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
