Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s three-day state visit to SA in October took some political courage.
He was under enormous pressure not to travel to Johannesburg after the recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerian businesses that led to about 600 of its citizens (many of them professionals) being evacuated back home. About 500,000 Nigerians are thought to live in SA.
The binational commission had not met in six years.
Four issues dominated deliberations. The leaders discussed key bilateral, continental and global issues. Presidential polls in Nigeria and SA this year distracted attention from bilateral co-operation, and the fact that neither president personally attended the other’s inauguration was not a good sign for this bilateral relationship.
The second key issue was bilateral trade, worth about R50bn last year. About 120 SA companies work in Nigeria’s 180-million strong market in diverse sectors, while 90% of Abuja’s exports to the SA market of 57-million consists of oil. Both countries committed to making it easier for their businesses to operate in each other’s market. A joint ministerial advisory council on industry, trade and investment was announced.
Buhari curiously sent his minister of state for industry, trade & investment, Maryam Katagum, to share the stage with Ramaphosa at the joint business forum, raising diplomatic eyebrows.
Continuing difficulties
The forum praised Transnet’s role in efforts to revive Nigeria’s railway sector and highlighted both governments’ efforts to create a joint car sector.
SA companies expressed continuing difficulties in finding Nigerian business partners. In his speech Ramaphosa pushed for the rapid implementation of the continental free-trade area, promoted the upscaling of the continent’s infrastructure and advocated increasing both countries’ electricity output.
The third issue was the recent spate of xenophobic attacks affecting citizens of not just Nigeria, but also Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Somalia.
Reprisal attacks by Nigerian looters against Shoprite, MTN and Pep Stores in Lagos led to the temporary closure of these businesses.
While condemning the attacks, Ramaphosa argued that other foreigners and South Africans had also been victims. Buhari warned his compatriots in SA to follow the laws of their hosts, noting that: “When you are in Rome, behave as Romans do.”
Restrictive visa policies have been one of the thorniest issues in this bilateral relationship
To forestall further xenophobic attacks, both leaders announced the establishment of an early-warning system — involving the two governments and civil society — and mediation mechanisms.
These instruments had been agreed after earlier attacks against Nigerians citizens and property in Johannesburg in 2017 but were never set up. Despite the announcement of implementation mechanisms, it is unclear why one should believe things will be different this time. A lack of political will and deep mistrust still characterise this relationship, and empty symbolism often masquerades as concrete substance.
Another example of this diplomatic shadowboxing was the announcement by both presidents of the re-establishment of the SA-Nigeria Consular Forum, which is to meet twice a year. Restrictive visa policies have been one of the thorniest issues in this bilateral relationship. Abuja and Tshwane had already agreed in 2012 to facilitate long-term visas for business people. But this was never done.
One bright spot in the relationship has been the quiet but effective military co-operation between both countries as Nigeria struggles to pacify its northeast and other parts of the country.
The presidents also discussed co-ordinating their approaches to SA’s current two-year stint on the UN Security Council, Nigeria’s presidency of the UN General Assembly, and SA’s chairing of the AU next year. Both reiterated the need to democratise and reform the anachronistic 15-member UN Security Council.
But despite the efforts to “reset” this relationship, SA and Nigeria are crippled giants suffering from high unemployment, sluggish growth, widespread youth joblessness and low investment. Both lack a genuine vision and leadership in promoting regional integration to strengthen the Southern African Development Community and the Economic Community of West African States as pillars for continental integration.
Despite euphoric talk of a renewed “strategic” partnership, this relationship still has a long way to go before both countries can act as engines of growth to power Africa’s sputtering locomotive.
• Adebajo is director of the University of Johannesburg’s Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation.
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