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Government Does Not Check Foundations Of Bilateral Relationships – Expert

The Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) has frowned against the government not checking the foundations of any bilateral relationship. Professor … Continue reading Government Does Not Check Foundations Of Bilateral Relationships – Expert


Bola AkinterinwaThe Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) has frowned against the government not checking the foundations of any bilateral relationship.

Professor Bola Akinterinwa was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.

“The most unfortunate aspect of the bilateral relationship is that the foundation of the relationship is hardly looked into before we negotiate and make policy pronouncement. Nobody is interested in looking at the foundational dynamic.

“The foundation, basically, borders on how Nigeria is perceived in the foreign policy calculations of South Africa”, he explained.

Giving his opinion on the impact of the South African President’s visit to Nigeria, Professor Akinterinwa said that the impacts are enormous, but depends on what Nigeria would lay emphasis on.

“What is the declared intention of the visit as distinct from the undeclared?.

“Put it differently, why do you have a state visit in which the technocrats would be involved and then suddenly, you go into the level of tete a tete and all others would be excluded?.

“The undeclared intention to me, is to seek more avenues, opportunities for the people of South Africa in Nigeria. Not just to consolidate the gains, but to also increase the gains,” he maintained.

Speaking further about the sector to increase the gains, the NIIA boss said: “It is left for the South African leader to define. Not even our own government can define why he chose to come at this critical time, bearing in mind that presidential visits are not just prepared for, in one day or month.

“The declared purpose of the visit was to improve trade relations, increase investments and remove the irritancy of the relationship amongst others. On this basis, the impact cannot but be to change the perception of South Africa in the strategic calculations of Nigeria,” he added.

South African President, Jacob Zuma, on Tuesday hailed Nigeria’s role in helping the southern African country during its trying times.

Speaking during a joint session of the National Assembly, President Zuma said “Nigeria’s role in ending apartheid in South Africa must be told endlessly to future generations of our people.

“Nigeria provided solidarity to South Africans to unseat colonialist and we can’t forget Nigeria’s role in reparation for South Africa,” he said.