Passport No Longer Required for Nigerians Visiting South Africa, Ramaphosa Announces

South Africa has taken a major step to ease travel for Nigerian tourists and businesspeople. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Nigerians can now apply for South African visas without submitting their passports. This significant change was revealed during the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town on Tuesday, where Nigerian President Bola Tinubu was also present.

The new policy aims to simplify the visa process, making it easier for Nigerian nationals to visit South Africa for both business and tourism. As part of this initiative, qualifying Nigerian businesspeople will be eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas, enhancing the ease of access for long-term business engagements.

Easing Travel to Boost Economic Ties

Ramaphosa emphasized that the visa changes are part of a broader effort to strengthen economic relations between the two countries. “Our simplified visa process for Nigerian businesspeople and tourists is an essential step toward facilitating trade and investment,” said Ramaphosa. The move is expected to help increase the flow of business travelers, tourists, and investment between the two nations.

This initiative comes as both countries mark 30 years of diplomatic relations. Ramaphosa noted that South Africa has long been a welcoming destination for Nigerian businesses, with many Nigerian companies already operating in the country. The new visa policy is seen as a natural progression in deepening these economic ties.

South Africa and Nigeria: Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

In addition to the visa reform, the leaders discussed the broader scope of their economic cooperation. Ramaphosa and Tinubu both stressed the importance of addressing challenges that hinder further growth, such as reducing bureaucratic obstacles and improving the business environment. Ramaphosa highlighted South Africa’s commitment to creating a more investor-friendly atmosphere, while Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s ongoing reforms to attract foreign investment.

Both presidents expressed confidence that these efforts will help unlock greater opportunities for businesses in both countries. “We need to build on our successes and remove the remaining constraints to trade and investment,” Ramaphosa added.

Africa’s Role on the Global Stage

During the event, Ramaphosa also spoke about South Africa’s upcoming role in hosting the G20 summit, the first to be held on African soil. He stressed the importance of bringing African issues to the global stage, particularly the need for more inclusive development programs that address the challenges faced by countries in the Global South.

“As we prepare for the G20 summit, it’s crucial that the voices of African nations are heard and that the global agenda reflects the needs of our people,” he said, emphasizing the significance of Africa’s Agenda 2063 for achieving sustainable development.

Looking Ahead: A New Era of Nigeria-South Africa Relations

The streamlined visa process marks a new chapter in Nigeria-South Africa relations, with both countries committed to fostering greater cooperation. With the simplified visa requirements, business and tourism exchanges are expected to increase, further strengthening economic and cultural ties between Africa’s two largest economies. As they look ahead to a more integrated future, both leaders are optimistic that these changes will pave the way for even closer collaboration in the years to come.