Nigeria and South Africa have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening political and economic cooperation following a high-level political consultation held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The session, co-chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka, took place under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the 10th Bi-National Commission (BNC) in 2021, and reaffirmed during the 11th BNC in 2024.

A joint communique issued after the meeting highlighted discussions on trade and investment, defence, migration, multilateral diplomacy, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Both countries underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation, pledging continued support for each other’s candidatures in global institutions and alignment on issues of mutual interest.

The consultation also reviewed progress since the last BNC, noting challenges such as the delay in signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Standards and Standardisation between Nigeria’s Standards Organisation and the South African Bureau of Standards. The document, initially scheduled for March 2025, is reportedly still under legal review by Nigeria’s Ministry of Justice.

Nonetheless, several milestones were celebrated. In April 2025, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, signed a mineral sector cooperation agreement with Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, aimed at boosting investment, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing between both nations’ mining sectors.

In aviation, progress was recorded following the January 2025 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Air Traffic and Navigation Services between South Africa and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in Johannesburg.

Migration and consular matters were also emphasised. Both parties agreed to expedite the implementation of the Early Warning Mechanism MoU, intended to address migration and consular challenges. They further noted ongoing cultural exchanges, particularly in the creative industries, supported by a 2021 Audio-Visual Cooperation Agreement that facilitates joint film productions, technical expertise sharing, and industry events.

Efforts are underway to liberalise visa regulations for business travellers, while the convening of the 3rd Consular and Migration Forum—originally agreed upon during the 10th BNC—was urged for the first quarter of 2026 in Pretoria.

The session commended the work of the Defence and Security Working Group, which convened in Abuja in September for the 6th session of the Defence Committee, and called for the activation of the Joint Ministerial Advisory Council on Industry, Trade and Investment, which has yet to meet. A Joint Implementation Committee was formally established to monitor and review agreed decisions on a quarterly basis.

Both sides also welcomed preparations for the upcoming G20 Africa Outreach Meeting on Industrialisation and Agriculture in Abuja on November 3, 2025. The next Political Consultation, preceded by a Mid-Term Review Meeting, is scheduled to take place in Abuja in 2026.

In her closing remarks, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu thanked the South African delegation for their open and constructive engagement that enabled meaningful progress.