By Abiola Olawale
President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Tuesday, announced that Nigerian tourists and business travellers can now benefit from relaxed visa requirements.
The South African President announced that the development is part of the ongoing bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa.
The development was also confirmed in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga, in the statement said Ramaphosa announced the new visa rules during the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, which was attended by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the statement, tourists from Nigeria will no longer need to submit a passport when applying for a visa.
Also, qualifying Nigerian business people can now access five-year multiple-entry visas, significantly easing business travel between the two countries.
Ramaphosa was quoted as saying: “Our efforts to create a favourable environment include our simplified visa process for Nigerian business people to travel to South Africa. Qualifying Nigerian business people can be granted a five-year multiple-entry visa.
“Nigeria is host to use several southern companies. South Africa has always been open to Nigerian business, reflected in the number of investments and operations established in this country.
“There is much more we need to do. We need to remove the remaining constraints to greater investment, just as we need to address some of the challenges that companies have experienced.”
Ramaphosa also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to making it easier for businesses to operate in South Africa.
“Our government continues with 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 said.
The New Diplomat reports that Tinubu is currently in South Africa as co-chair of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC).
The Nigerian President left France for South Africa after holding talks with President Emmanuel Macron on deepening bilateral ties.
