Zuma to attend inauguration of Nigerian president

President Jacob Zuma will on Thursday travel to Nigeria attend the inauguration of president-elect General Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari will be sworn in on Friday.

In a statement released by the department of international relations and co-operation‚ Zuma expressed “his commitment to working closely with Buhari to enhance the good bilateral relations which exist between SA and Nigeria‚ paying particular focus on the strengthening of economic co-operation”.

Zuma will also use the visit “to further strengthen and consolidate historic and strategic relations between the two countries‚ and to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern”.

Since the creation of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) in 1999‚ the statement said‚ the “two countries have already signed 34 bilateral agreements and co-operation continues to grow”.

“The total trade between South Africa and Nigeria increased from R15-billion in 2009 to R42-billion in 2013. The South African exports to and imports from Nigeria from January to December 2014 stood at R10.5-billion and R55.7-billion‚ respectively‚” the statement said.

“Nigeria enjoys a surplus trade balance with South Africa‚ which is attributable to huge quantities of oil imports from Nigeria. Meanwhile South Africa exports vehicles‚ aircrafts and vessels‚ iron and steel products‚ machinery and equipment and plastics and rubber.”