South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled a new visa policy for Nigerians, allowing investors and tourists to apply for visas without submitting their passports.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, attended by President Bola Tinubu, Ramaphosa detailed the simplified visa process aimed at fostering stronger economic ties.
“Qualifying Nigerian business people can now be granted a five-year multiple-entry visa,” he announced, highlighting South Africa’s efforts to create a more favourable environment for Nigerian businesspeople and tourists.
The South African President also reaffirmed his commitment to eliminating barriers to investment and addressing challenges faced by companies operating in both countries.
“As we celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations, we envision a bright future for our partnership. Strong bonds of friendship lay the foundation for deeper economic cooperation,” he said.
Ramaphosa acknowledged Nigeria’s role as host to several South African companies and encouraged more Nigerian investments in South Africa. He emphasised the need to remove existing barriers to trade and investment while commending Nigeria’s reforms aimed at creating a more robust business environment for investors.
He further pledged to improve the ease of doing business in South Africa, ensuring investors can operate, trade, and explore opportunities across various sectors.
Turning to the continent’s broader development, Ramaphosa stressed the importance of prioritising Africa’s challenges on the global stage. He noted that the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit, to be hosted on African soil for the first time, would focus on the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and advocate for an inclusive global agenda.
“In shaping global discourse, our programs must ensure that no one is left behind in our societies,” Ramaphosa concluded.
