Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu will depart Lagos for Pretoria, South Africa, to attend the inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa, according to a statement released by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.
Ngelale added that Tinubu’s attendance at the ceremony shows Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with South Africa.
The event marks Ramaphosa’s re-election for a second term, after a historic coalition government formed by the African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties.
The ANC, the party that led the anti-apartheid struggle, garnered only 40% of the vote in the recent general election and lost its absolute majority in parliament for the first time. Meanwhile, the party successfully established a government of national unity through a coalition deal.
The presence of Tinubu at the inauguration ceremony underscores the importance of Nigeria-South Africa relations, especially in areas like trade, investment, and regional security.
The two countries have a long-standing relationship, with South Africa being one of Nigeria’s biggest trading partners.
Tinubu will hold bilateral talks with Ramaphosa, focusing on issues such as economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and regional integration during his visit. Also, both leaders will discuss pressing global issues like climate change, poverty, and inequality.