As President Goodluck Jonathan makes his maiden official state visit to South Africa this weekend, Raheem Akingbolu writes that the meeting could be another opportunity to strengthen the bilateral relationships between the two African giants
Consumers and investors, who are involved in trans-border transactions between South Africa and Nigeria, may have begun feeling the good times to come, as a result of the current moves being made by the leadership of the two countries to boost the bilateral relationship between them.
Three weeks after the South African President, Jacob Zuma, paid a one day visit to Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan is poised to return the good gesture to pursue issues that would further aid the economic growth of Nigeria and South Africa.
Matters Arising
According to Channels TV that reported the visit of the South Africa leader, shortly after his arrival in the capital city of Abuja, President Zuma went into talks with his host at the Aso Rock presidential villa. After the hour-long talks, Zuma told state house correspondents that both leaders discussed issues of regional peace and security, among others.
He said it was important to align with Nigeria on certain issues that concerned both countries and indeed the continent, especially as President Jonathan was billed to visit South Africa very soon.
According to President Zuma, the continent would soon be observing the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union (AU); hence it was important that Nigeria and South Africa exchanged views on what to do to move the union forward.
With the latest development, pundits believe that there couldn't have been a better time for the leadership of both countries to cement their relationship, given the mutual suspicion brewing between Nigerians and South Africans, which reached its climax last year when the latter deported 125 Nigerians for allegedly travelling with fake yellow cards; a situation which gave room for retaliation by the Nigerian government.
But the crisis, which would have led to strained relationship, was, however, amicably resolved after South Africa apologised to Nigeria.
Consumers and investors, who are involved in trans-border transactions between South Africa and Nigeria, may have begun feeling the good times to come, as a result of the current moves being made by the leadership of the two countries to boost the bilateral relationship between them.
Three weeks after the South African President, Jacob Zuma, paid a one day visit to Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan is poised to return the good gesture to pursue issues that would further aid the economic growth of Nigeria and South Africa.
Matters Arising
According to Channels TV that reported the visit of the South Africa leader, shortly after his arrival in the capital city of Abuja, President Zuma went into talks with his host at the Aso Rock presidential villa. After the hour-long talks, Zuma told state house correspondents that both leaders discussed issues of regional peace and security, among others.
He said it was important to align with Nigeria on certain issues that concerned both countries and indeed the continent, especially as President Jonathan was billed to visit South Africa very soon.
According to President Zuma, the continent would soon be observing the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union (AU); hence it was important that Nigeria and South Africa exchanged views on what to do to move the union forward.
With the latest development, pundits believe that there couldn't have been a better time for the leadership of both countries to cement their relationship, given the mutual suspicion brewing between Nigerians and South Africans, which reached its climax last year when the latter deported 125 Nigerians for allegedly travelling with fake yellow cards; a situation which gave room for retaliation by the Nigerian government.
But the crisis, which would have led to strained relationship, was, however, amicably resolved after South Africa apologised to Nigeria.
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