• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Nigeria and South Africa to issue 10-year visas to business men, students

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Nigeria and South Africa have agreed to issue 10-year visas for businessmen and students.

This is one of the major highlights 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 meeting.

A statement by Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, in Abuja said both countries have agreed to extend the visa coverage to frequent travelers.

The agreement was reached in a meeting co-chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, which was the first time  both presidents would preside since the Bi-National Commission was elevated.

The decision, according to Shehu, was taken to encourage more people-to-people contacts among  citizens of both countries and further strengthen socio-cultural, economic and political relations.

At the meeting held at the Union Buildings, Presidential Palace of South Africa, the two presidents agreed on early warning signals to nip violence in the bud before it escalates, while taking into consideration the need to share more intelligence and promote stronger partnership in security.

Both countries also 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.

Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, signed the minutes of the 9th session of Bi-National Commission.

Th Nigerian presidency also announced that the extra- ordinary Federal Executive Council FEC meeting earlier scheduled for Saturday 5th October, has been rescheduled for Monday, October 7th.

The meeting was scheduled to complete the process for transmitting the 2020 budget to the National Assembly.

Although no official reason was advanced for the shift, BusinessDay checks revealed that it may not have been unconnected with the very tight scheduled of President Muhammadu Buhari while in South Africa

BusinessDay checks also showed that seven of the cabinet members who were with the President did not have enough time to tidy up their ministries’ preparation for the meeting.

The President is however expected to lay the budget before a joint session of the lawmakers on Tuesday, 8 of October.