At the invitation of the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, ARC. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, visited South Africa from 22 to 23 May 2012 to attend the 8th Session of the South Africa Nigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC). His Excellency, Vice President Sambo was accompanied by a high level delegation comprising state governors, ministers, and senior government officials.
During the visit, which was aimed at further strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation that exist between South Africa and Nigeria, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held substantive and fruitful discussions on a wide range of issues of common interest across the bilateral, regional and international spectrum.
Deputy President Motlanthe and Vice President Sambo expressed appreciation for the excellent ties of friendship and cooperation which exist between their two countries and their two peoples and reaffirmed their desire to further deepen them.
In this regard, the Deputy President of South Africa and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria reviewed the work and progress of their bilateral cooperation since the 7th session of South Africa Nigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC), which was held from 21-23 May 2008 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Deputy President Motlanthe and Vice President Sambo were apprised of the deliberations of the Special Implementation Committee of the BNC, which met on 21 and 22 May 2012. The meeting of the Special Implementation Committee agreed on a range of issues that reflect the decisions taken by the seven Working Groups of the Bi-National Commission.
The objective of the working groups was to enhance cooperation and agree on time-frames for implementing action plans, as well as to review matters of mutual concern. The working groups are the following:
(i)Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Working Group
(ii)Trade, Industry and Finance Working Group
(iii)Defence and Security Working Group
(iv)Agriculture, Water Resources and Environment Working Group
(v)Minerals and Energy Working Group
(vi)Public Enterprises and Infrastructure Working Group
(vii)Social and Technical Working Group
Furthermore, an Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding, as well as an Implementation Plan were signed on 23 May 2012 at the conclusion of the BNC.
- Agreement regarding Mutual Assistance and Customs Administration
- Memorandum of Understanding on Economic and Technical Cooperation
- Implementation Plan on the existing bilateral agreements and matters arising from the Bi-National Commission.
Deputy President Motlanthe and Vice President Sambo have agreed on the Implementation Plan which is aimed at ensuring that there is a strict time-frame with regards to the execution and implementation of the commitments and decisions taken during the BNC.
Deputy President Motlanthe and Vice President Sambo expressed the need for strengthening the African Union and sub-regional organisations in Africa with a view to promoting peace, security, stability, democracy and sustainable development.
To this end, they strongly urged the international community to support the untiring efforts of the AU in settling the socio-political crises in the continent whenever they arise.
On issues in the international arena, Deputy President Motlanthe and Vice President Sambo reaffirmed the necessity to introduce, without further delay, reforms within the United Nations System, particularly with regard to the Security Council.
They called for the establishment of a new World Economic Order which would take into account the interests of the poor countries in order to narrow the ever-growing gap between the poor and the rich.
His Excellency Vice President Sambo took the opportunity to invite His Excellency Mr Motlanthe to pay a reciprocal visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The invitation was accepted with pleasure and the date will be jointly agreed and communicated through diplomatic channels.
