- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Government pledges to help Nigeria tackle militancy
- Date: 24th May 2012
- Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (MAY 23) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TYNHUYS CAPE TOWN (OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT) NIGERIAN VICE PRESIDENT MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO ARRIVING NIGERIAN VICE PRESIDENT MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO SHAKING HANDS WITH SOUTH AFRICAN DEPUTY PRESIDENT KGALEMA MOTLANTHE SAMBO AND MOTLANTHE IN FRONT OF FLAGS DELEGATES SEATED WIDE OF MOTLANTHE AND SAMBO SEATED WITH DELEGATES MOTLANTHE AND SAMBO SEATED AT DESK SIGNING DOCUMENTS AND SHAKING HANDS DELEGATES LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN VICE PRESIDENT, MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO, SAYING: "The issue of tugging the position of Boko Haram is a totally different issue but one thing I would like to say here is that the Nigerian government will see this opportunity to assure all Nigerians and in fact all people of the world that we are doing everything to ensure the safety of life and property of Nigerians and our visitors. And we are doing everything to address the challenges of insecurity. When you talk about terrorism it's a global phenomenon today and the whole world cooperates in addressing this menace that is happening all over the world." DELEGATES LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN DEPUTY PRESIDENT, KGALEMA MOTLANTHE, SAYING: "We would guarantee going forward, we would guarantee to our Nigerian brothers demand for their liquid fuel because we don't want to source our fuel in areas that are likely to be unstable, indeed we are quite confident that Nigeria will become one of South Africa's trusted suppliers of liquid fuel going forward." DELEGATES LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIA VICE PRESIDENT MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO, SAYING: "We agreed we shall even expand the numbers of years for visa issuance and in fact for diplomatic and official passports we are planning to do away completely with the issuing of visas. So we we never had any issue to do with the way and relationship...both countries are sister countries and we are doing everything...you probably are referring to what happened in the airport - that is history." SAMBO AND MOTLANTHE ENTERING CONFERENCE ROOM CAMERAMAN FILMING MOTLANTHE SEATED AT TABLE SAMBO SEATED AT TABLE DELEGATES SEATED AT TABLES
- Embargoed: 8th June 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Crime,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABY2F484ST6PFOQ2JY1DBLOOPK
- Story Text: South Africa said at a meeting in Cape Town on Wednesday (May 23, 2012) it would increase ties with Nigeria, pledging to tackle militant group Boko Haram, increase trade in oil and reduce red tape in issuing visas.
Nigerian Deputy President Namadi Sambo met with South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to review the progress made since the 7th Bi-National Commission was held in Abuja in 2008.
South Africa's Motlanthe said the South African government was not happy with the insecurity condition in Nigeria, reiterating plans to help combat the activities of Boko Haram and other related groups in the country.
Nigeria's Sambo offered assurances that his government was dedicated to tackling Boko Haram and other extremists.
"One thing I would like to say here is that the Nigerian government will see this opportunity to assure all Nigerians and in fact all people of the world that we are doing everything to ensure the safety of life and property of Nigerians and our visitors," Sambo said.
"And we are doing everything to address the challenges of insecurity. When you talk about terrorism it's a global phenomenon today, and the whole world cooperates in addressing this menace that is happening all over the world."
With uncertainty over oil supplies from Iran, South Africa also said it is looking to Nigeria to purchase fuel.
South Africa, which currently sources about a quarter of its oil from Iran, may be forced to comply with a US order to cease buying or face economic penalties.
"We would guarantee going forward, we would guarantee to our Nigerian brothers demand for their liquid fuel because we don't want to source our fuel in areas that are likely to be unstable, in deed we are quite confident that Nigeria will become one of South Africa's trusted suppliers of liquid fuel going forward," Motlanthe said.
Turning to immigration, Nigeria said it had resolved issues regarding the deportation of Nigerians from South Africa's O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Several Nigerians were deported after a dispute over yellow fever vaccinations in March.
"We agreed we shall even expand the numbers of years for visas issues and in fact for diplomatic and official passports we are planning to do away completely issuing of visas, so we we never had any issue to do with the way and relationships, both countries are sister countries and we are doing everything, you probably are referring to what happened in the airport, that is history," Sambo said.
Motlanthe added that the agreement he signed with Sambo today would help prepare the way for a more open business environment between two of the continent's biggest economies. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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