South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a new visa policy aimed at simplifying travel for Nigerian investors and tourists.
This announcement was made during the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, attended by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
Under the revised policy, qualifying Nigerian businesspeople can now obtain a five-year multiple-entry visa, eliminating the need to submit a passport during the application process.
President Ramaphosa emphasized that this initiative is designed to "create a favourable environment" for Nigerian businesspeople traveling to South Africa.
He stated, "We need to remove the remaining constraints to greater investment, just as we need to address some of the challenges that companies have experienced."
The South African leader also highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral relations, noting that "our strong bonds of friendship provide a firm foundation for more meaningful economic cooperation."
He acknowledged Nigeria's efforts to reform its business environment and pledged to improve the ease of doing business in South Africa, aiming to attract more Nigerian investments.
This policy change is part of a broader effort to enhance economic collaboration between the two nations, marking 30 years of diplomatic relations.
It also aligns with South Africa's commitment to placing Africa's development on the G20 agenda, as Ramaphosa noted, "For South Africa, it is our view that in shaping global discourse, programs should be tailored to ensure that in our societies, no one is left behind."
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