The South African President Jacob Zuma Tuesday revealed that Nigerian is an investment destination as South companies which were only four as at 1999 are now over 120, involved in diverse businesses in Nigeria.
He equally recalled how Nigerian civil servant paid ‘Mandela Tax’ which was deducted directly from their salary, adding that this is the time for Nigeria to get the right policies towards economic diversification to enable her take a leap from being a consumer nation.
The session held amidst tight security as activities at the National Assembly were grinded at about 1.00pm following the arrival of stern looking operatives of Department of State Security (DSS) who took over all the major entrance into the House of Representatives section of the National Assembly. Movement across both chambers was highly restricted and journalists were allowed access after proper identification. Banking halls and other commercial activities within the National Assembly were closed.
Zuma recalled how Nigeria played host to South African fugitives who left the country as a result of the apartheid regime, gave scholarship to South African students and established a South African relief fund in 1970 which helped in sustaining the struggle against white dominance.
Zuma said, “Nigeria also hosted some of the exiled freedom fighters from South Africa with numbers increasing after the Soweto students uprising, June 1976. By June this year we shall commemorate the International day of the African child since it was instituted in 1991”.
Zuma further said that Nigeria boycotted the 1978 and 1986 common wealth games in solidarity with South African in her struggle to end apartheid. He equally recalled that Nigeria and South Africa has signed over 34 memorandum of understanding adding that now is the time to translate those agreements into fruitful venture.
Zuma called for greater business relationship between Nigeria and South Africa in the areas of energy, electricity, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and infrastructural development adding “Nigeria must strive to bring manufacturing plants close to the source of raw material”; an area South Africa is ready to offer a helping hand.
He equally said that South Africa is ready to assist Nigeria in the mining sector and avail her experience in electricity generation and distribution as well as in the aviation sector, adding that people to people relationship should also be improved upon.
“Considering that we are the biggest economy in Africa, we should strive not to be left behind in the Industrial revolution. Let the people of Africa match together to defeat those things hampering our progress” Zuma said.
In his opening address, the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki informed the visiting head of state that Nigerians in South Africa are facing a lot of challenges, adding that while the South African businesses thrive in Nigeria, Nigerians find South African business environment very unfriendly and hostile. He called for the activation of series of Memorandum of Understanding between both countries to ensure that it does not end up as political statements.
Saraki equally solicited for the support of South Africa in the ongoing war against terror adding that “Terrorism anywhere must be seen as terrorism everywhere”.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara told their guest that relationship between Nigeria and South Africa should not end at the executive level.
According to Dogara,”relationship between leaders must translate into relationship between citizens. It is only then that Nigeria and South Africa will become big brothers”