President Goodluck Jonathan has called for the resuscitation of the Nigeria-South Africa bi-National Commission in order to further strengthen the warm relations between the two countries.
President Jonathan made this known while addressing the delegation from South Africa, led by the Minister of Correctional Services, Mapisa Ngakula, at State House on Thursday.
The President recalled that as Vice President, he headed Nigeria’s delegation to the Bi-National Commission, and said “the body was crucial to the growth of cordial relations and mutual understanding between the two countries.”
He noted that Nigeria and South Africa have good economic relations, and emphasized that current warm political relations should be maintained as well.
President Jonathan, who thanked the delegation for delivering the message from President Jacob Zuma, also emphasised the need for the two countries to “cooperate to provide leadership for Africa, which providence has thrust on the two nations” he said.
The two largest economies in sub-Saharan Africa were embroiled in a diplomatic row over the deportation of 125 from South-Africa over the possession of fake yellow-fever vaccination card. Nigeria retaliated with the deportation of a number of South Africans over inadequate documentations. Authorities in Pretoria tendered an apology to the Nigerian government over the issue.
Earlier, the leader of the South African delegation had said the events leading to the deportation of Nigerians recently were “not approved by President Jacob Zuma nor the South African Government.” She added that the issue was being investigated with a view to sanctioning whoever may be found culpable.
She noted that the South African Government had publicly apologized to indicate that the two nations already have excellent brotherly relations which should not be destroyed by actions of staff who do not have the authority to take certain decisions.
She said Nigeria and South Africa need to build on the strong relations already existing, between them through the Bi-National Commission, in order to avoid a recurrence of the unfortunate events of the past few weeks.
No compensation
Mrs Ngakula, however ruled out any chance of compensation being paid to the 125 Nigerians that were deported from Johannesburg. She told journalists after the meeting with President Jonathan that “the issue of compensation is out of the question.”
“We don’t understand why South Africa will have to compensate. We believe that it is enough that we have come out to apologise. It is enough that we have demonstrated our goodwill to the government of Nigeria. It is enough that the President (Zuma) has sent his special envoy to reiterate his commitment to the bi-national commission and to the old working relationship with the people of Nigeria” she stated.
