JUST IN: South Africa eases visa rules for Nigerian tourists, business people

By Kunle Sanni

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that Nigerian tourists and business travelers can now apply for visas to South Africa without submitting their passports.

Speaking at the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town on Tuesday, which was attended by President Bola Tinubu, Ramaphosa highlighted South Africa’s efforts to simplify its visa processes. Among these measures is the introduction of five-year multiple-entry visas for qualifying Nigerian business people.

“Our efforts to create a favorable environment include our simplified visa process for Nigerian business people traveling to South Africa. Qualifying Nigerian business people can now be granted a five-year multiple-entry visa,” he stated.

Ramaphosa also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to enhancing economic ties by removing barriers to investment and addressing challenges faced by businesses in both nations.

“As we mark 30 years of diplomatic relations, we see a bright future for our partnership. Our strong bonds of friendship provide a solid foundation for meaningful economic cooperation.

“Nigeria hosts many South African companies, and South Africa remains open to Nigerian businesses, as seen in the number of investments and operations established here. However, there is still more to be done to remove constraints to greater investment and address the challenges some companies have faced.”

The South African leader acknowledged Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms to foster an investor-friendly environment, which he said align with South Africa’s own efforts to improve the ease of doing business.

“We want to enable investors to operate, trade, and explore opportunities in various sectors. We look forward to welcoming more Nigerian companies to invest in South Africa,” he added.

Ramaphosa also emphasized the importance of Africa’s development and the challenges faced by Global South nations on the global stage. He pledged to prioritize these issues during the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit, which will be held on African soil for the first time.

“At the G20, we will advocate for the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and push for a global agenda that ensures no one is left behind. For South Africa, it is essential that programs tailored to shaping global discourse reflect this inclusivity,” he said.