South Africa’s Zuma Arrives Nigeria

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa arrived Nigeria last night on a two day state visit. He was received by former President Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama. During his visit, Zuma will have bilateral talks with President Buhari, meet with the Nigerian business community and the South African community in Nigeria. His visit ends March 9th.

The Federal Government says South African President Jacob Zuma is visiting President Buhari today with a view to deepening the trade relations between both nations.

Daily Trust report continues:

Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, who disclosed this to State House correspondents yesterday, stated that Zuma was coming with a large entourage of investors.

The minister further hinted that the meeting would also discuss the numerous challenges confronting Nigerians living in South Africa.

According to him, the meeting is also expected to calm the tension that may exist “at another level” among the citizens of both countries.

He said: “The meeting between both presidents is very timely. Nigeria and South Africa are the pillars of this continent. And moving forward, both countries have to work together, both presidents have to be close. So, this meeting is going to help to increase the trade between both countries, and they’re both facing inimical challenges. So, it’s absolutely important that President Zuma is coming with a large entourage of business people. So, we’re going to be looking at areas of cooperation in the trade sector.”

Onyeama said the federal government, in its foreign policy drive of economic diplomacy, would like to see Nigeria and South Africa collaborate to push for greater African integration and inter-African trade.

“We believe that South Africa and Nigeria can really begin now to chart a new path, anchored by the two countries, to push for greater economic activities in Africa and also building up the infrastructure within Africa”, he added.

On whether Zuma’s visit is for fence-mending over the last year’s xenophobia attack on Nigerians in South Africa, the minister stated: “There is really no fence to be mended. The relationship with South Africa is very good one. Nigeria was considered one of the front line states in the battle against apartheid though we were not geographically located in that part of Africa.

“People go to where they see the best economic well-being. When the economic situation of that country starts to go bad, you’d start getting xenophobia by people within that country, they don’t speak for the rest of the country, they’re in minority, and I think South Africa came out to condemn the violence perpetrated against foreigners. It is not state policy and it’s not the way of thinking of most South Africans...It’s miscreants in the country”.

The South African News Agency had last week reported that President Zuma would be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies, Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane, as well as a South African business delegation.

There are over 120 South African companies doing business in Nigeria in various sectors, including telecommunications, aviation, tourism, banking, property, retail, entertainment and the fast food.

Some of the companies include MTN, Multichoice, Shoprite, Protea Hotels, South African Airways, South African Breweries (SAB miller), among others.