Your Excellency, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mohammed Namadi Sambo;
Your Excellencies, Ministers and Deputy Ministers;
Your Excellencies, High Commissioner of the Republics of South Africa and the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
Senior Officials;
Ladies and gentlemen:

I am truly delighted and honoured to welcome you once again, Your Excellency and your delegation, on the occasion of the 8th Bi-National Commission (BNC) between South Africa and Nigeria and wish you a fruitful and enjoyable stay.

Your presence in our country further accentuates the warm, solid and fraternal relations between our two countries.

We truly value these relations which are growing into an important partnership between our countries, and which will positively impact on our work at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

I am profoundly pleased that this session of the BNC witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Economic and Technical Cooperation; and an Implementation Plan on the existing bilateral agreements and matters arising from the Bi-National Commission.

Your Excellency, South Africa and Nigeria face common socio-economic challenges – among others, job creation, unemployment, poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment.

Much work remains to be done and I am convinced that the discussions we held earlier today will enhance our work in resolving our socio-economic challenges.

Your Excellency,

Our two countries share common values of democracy, respect for human rights and social justice, and we continue to build on our good relationship on these principles.

Shared values provide the foundation for co-operation beyond our bilateral relations.

Our continued co-operation and consultations on regional matters is even more critical, particularly taking into consideration South Africa’s position in the UN Security Council.

Your Excellency, I wish to thank you for honouring our invitation to South Africa and may I take this opportunity once more to warmly welcome you and your delegation to our country.

Now more than ever I am convinced that our strategic partnership is irreversible. Consequently, I believe that following this valuable interaction we will communicate even more closely and consistently and move to implement all agreements with the necessary speed.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please rise and join me in a toast to the good health and prosperity of His Excellency, Mr. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, and to the friendship and partnership between the peoples of the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Nigeria.

To friendship!

I thank you.