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Nigeria and South Africa have strengthened their bilateral ties by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to boost cooperation between their legislative institutions and improve democratic governance.
The agreement, signed on Friday at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja, is expected to enhance collaboration, facilitate knowledge exchange, and build institutional capacity between Nigeria’s legislative support body and South Africa’s Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
Speaking at the ceremony, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, represented by Deputy Head of Mission Lindi Mminele, described the deal as a significant step forward in bilateral relations, noting that it would reinforce ties between both governments and their institutions.
He added that stronger cooperation is crucial for sustaining growth, particularly in a volatile global economic environment.
He further explained that the engagement reflects the importance both countries place on their relationship, adding that it gives practical expression to the goals of the binational commission led by Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Bola Tinubu.
“I believe this groundbreaking benchmarking will strengthen existing relations between the governments of South Africa and Nigeria, and also include the supporting institutions.
“Gauteng is our economic hub. For it to continue to prosper and thrive in the current volatile, fluid economic environment, I believe that strong, decisive leadership should be at the helm of progressive and developmental processes.
“Honourable members, your visit here in Nigeria re-emphasises the importance of our bilateral relations with Nigeria. It concretises and brings tangibility to the aspirations of our binational commission, which we have with Nigeria, which is led at the highest level by the two heads of state, His Excellency President Ramaphosa, as well as His Excellency Bola Tinubu here in Nigeria.”
The South African delegation also stressed the importance of aligning legislative frameworks across the continent, warning that initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area risk falling short without proper policy coordination. According to them, ongoing collaborations like this help translate continental ambitions into actionable outcomes.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, said the agreement signals a new phase of cooperation between the two countries.
He noted that the partnership showcases their shared commitment to democratic governance, constitutionalism, and Africa’s broader development agenda. He also conveyed goodwill from Nigeria’s National Assembly leadership, expressing confidence that the partnership would yield meaningful outcomes for both countries.
