President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has announced that tourists from Nigeria can now apply for a visa without needing to submit a passport. He made this announcement on Tuesday during the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, which was attended by President Bola Tinubu.
Ramaphosa stated that South Africa has simplified its visa processes to promote travel for Nigerian business people and tourists, including the introduction of five-year multiple-entry visas. “Our efforts to create a favorable environment include a simplified visa process for Nigerian business people traveling to South Africa. Qualifying Nigerian business people can be granted a five-year multiple-entry visa,” he said.
He also expressed South Africa’s commitment to removing barriers to greater investment and addressing the challenges faced by companies in both countries. “As we mark 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we see a bright future for our relationship. Our strong bonds of friendship provide a firm foundation for more meaningful economic cooperation.
Nigeria hosts several South African companies, and South Africa has always been open to Nigerian business, as reflected in the number of investments and operations established here. “However, there is still much more we need to do. We must eliminate the remaining obstacles to greater investment and address some of the challenges companies have encountered,” he added. President Ramaphosa acknowledged the Nigerian government’s reforms aimed at strengthening the business environment and providing assurances to investors, including those from South Africa.
“Our government continues its efforts to improve the ease of doing business in South Africa. We want to enable investors to operate, trade, and pursue opportunities in various sectors. We look forward to seeing more Nigerian companies investing in South Africa,” he stated.
The South African leader also emphasized that Africa’s development and the challenges faced by countries in the Global South will be prominently featured on the G20 agenda. “This will be the first time the G20 Leaders’ Summit is held on African soil. We will seek to galvanize support for the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as we pursue an inclusive global agenda.
“For South Africa, we believe that in shaping global discourse, programs should be designed to ensure that no one in our societies is left behind,” he concluded.
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