Cape Town - The leaders of Africa's two largest economies, South Africa and Nigeria, were meeting on Tuesday in an effort to improve sometimes patchy ties.

South African President Jacob Zuma and his Nigerian counterpart Goodluck Jonathan are expected to sign several pacts in a display of warming relations between the two African powerhouses on the heels of a trip in April by Zuma to Lagos.

Zuma welcomed Jonathan - on the first state visit to South Africa by any Nigerian leader since 2009 - with red carpet pomp and ceremony including a 21-gun salute, navy band and guard of honour.

Nigerian and South African flags lined the road to parliament in Cape Town and were also hanging outside the National Assembly where Jonathan is due to make an address at 12.00 GMT.

“I think symbolically it's very important to indicate a growing closeness between the leadership of the two countries,” said Dianna Games, honorary chief executive of the South Africa-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce.

“There is a kind of a rivalry that has dogged the relationship over some time, and as a result the two countries are not speaking with a united voice on issues affecting Africa, let alone issues in the relationship itself.”

While South Africa is still the continent's biggest economy, Nigerian business activity is set to grow more than twice as fast, by 7.2 percent, this year, according to International Monetary Fund estimates.

Total two-way trade has risen to $4.1 billion, with a surplus in oil-rich Nigeria's favour, according to South Africa's department of trade.

Nigeria is the continent's most populous country and its biggest oil producer.

The two states, which both want seats in an expanded UN Security Council, were at loggerheads last year over who would become head of the African Union's commission.

“It created a very frosty relationship between the two countries,” said Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, analyst at the South African Institute of International Affairs.

“My view is also that South Africa has also been trying to overstretch its role on the continent by trying to play a very important role” in countries in Nigeria's backyard such as Ivory Coast and Mali.

An embarrassing tit-for-tat row also broke out over yellow fever vaccinations that saw passengers turned away at airports in both countries in March last year.

The fact that there had not yet been an official state visit between the two countries was “abnormal for two continental powerhouses”, said Hengari.

“Ordinarily in his first year in office, Jonathan Goodluck should have been to South Africa and President Zuma should have been to Nigeria. That is a symbol of a very very strong bilateral relationship.”

South Africa's “charm offensive” pointed the way to a more cordial relationship where cooperation could be deepened and contentious issues discussed, he said.

While courting the emerging BRIC markets - Brazil, Russia, India and China - South Africa has not shown the “same political eagerness on the continent” with Nigeria an obvious target, said Games.

“If this is the start of a closer relationship, then I think that would be a very good thing all around for both countries and the continent as a whole because they are the two big powers in Africa,” she said.

The two leaders will attend a meeting of a bilateral business forum, while Jonathan will also hold separate talks with the South African-based MTN telecommunications company, as well as representatives of car manufacturers Toyota and Nissan in South Africa. - AFP

http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/sa-nigeria-aim-to-boost-ties-1.1511794

I sincerely hope this talks will bring fruitful results..like Toyota and Nissan coming to set up plants here and MTN improving their network..

awodman: I sincerely hope this talks will bring fruitful results..like Toyota and Nissan coming to set up plants here and MTN improving their network..

why did you mention empty hen

sheyie2007: why did you mention empty hen

Lol..MTN hen Йą still d biggest network for Nigeria Йą..

awodman:
Lol..MTN hen Йą still d biggest network for Nigeria Йą..

Glo don catch up... Best techie.. Na der I port go

Hope this would translate to good dividends of democracy especially for we Nigerians!

Good

Okay oh

What kinda tie? Bow tie or the regular ones?
He would strengthen ties among Nigerians,He wants to strengthen ties with a xenophobic nation
Charity begins at home

awodman: I sincerely hope this talks will bring fruitful results..like Toyota and Nissan coming to set up plants here and MTN improving their network..

Na SA get Toyota and Nissan?

Nigeria has no regular energy which is one of the key factors of industrialization .We still have a long way to go to be at par with South Africa. Best of luck though

We need to keep on straightening our ties with our South african brothers but they have to admit the fact that we are the Big bros!

onto the next one

Frankly this is long overdue between the two nations.
Good one.

pls who post this rubbish??

How about the Xenophobia thing? Was that discussed?

everyday: Nigeria has no regular energy which is one of the key factors of industrialization .We still have a long way to go to be at par with South Africa. Best of luck though

old crap,SA population is 3 times that of nigerian's..so dont expect them to have the same power situation..do you know that SA was operating with nuclear power station during the apathied?that means electricty was not their problem then..compared to the british that left nigeria in total darkness.

The US has paid S.A to bring Nigeria down. It will be a disgrace for Nigeria to rule the world economically with the rate of it's growth.

*sighs*
Wherever this boko id!ots are wen we need them most?

Believe it ll yield good result for both countries.

I think the op havent seen this!! https://www.nairaland.com/1277388/south-african-robbers-shoot-nigerian
this page is already to extend to 58 pages also. Lemme jez sit here, munching pop rocks and soda while watching the jabs, crosses and punches!! I c a possibility of a T.K.O

As much as GEJ may have good intentions, nothing good is going to come out of the talks.

1. Nigerians and Nigerian consulates are first class in disobeying laws set up by their hosts/foreign authorities. This will always cause diplomatic row.

2. Most comppanies operating and ripping Nigerians off are co-owned by our past and present Nigerian leaders. Thereby, nobody is going to question the status quo.

3. Nigeria is more at the mercy of SA given that the population of Nigerians in SA is 7:1 compared to SAs in Nigeria. "Before you go to war, choose what you are willing to loose".

4. Incompetent Nigerian representatives in SA.

5. Instability in Nigerian foreign policies.

I sincerely wish to be wrong on this.

If they come to NL, they'll change their minds

that is a very nice idea @ [size=20pt]http://leoweblink..com[/size]

DICKtator: What kinda tie? Bow tie or the regular ones?
He would strengthen ties among Nigerians,He wants to strengthen ties with a xenophobic nation
Charity begins at home

he has to strenghten ties with SA whether xenophobic or not.even US strengthens ties with its worst arab enemies.the fight for a supreme voice on african continent lies in the fact that SA is has issues with their people and self,their xenophobia plays part in their politics and the whole rivalry between both nations can't end with two leaders hugging each others,wat does d ordinary citizen think.pls on the whole UNSC perm seat,if at all an african nation gets its and it goes to SA,dn dts foul play.let's not be biased SA is of little activity on world issues,Nigeria is actively involved and always supporting the right cause or betterstill be neutral.ask any UN analyst,you'll see d light.

ths ws long overdue. . . .hope thres great results

SLIDE waxie: The US has paid S.A to bring Nigeria down. It will be a disgrace for Nigeria to rule the world economically with the rate of it's growth.

*sighs*
Wherever this boko id!ots are wen we need them most?

Are you drunk?

C mad man. . .SA is not that shallow

SLIDE waxie: The US has paid S.A to bring Nigeria down. It will be a disgrace for Nigeria to rule the world economically with the rate of it's growth.

*sighs*
Wherever this boko id!ots are wen we need them most?

Hezron Lorraine: he has to strenghten ties with SA whether xenophobic or not.even US strengthens ties with its worst arab enemies.the fight for a supreme voice on african continent lies in the fact that SA is has issues with their people and self,their xenophobia plays part in their politics and the whole rivalry between both nations can't end with two leaders hugging each others,wat does d ordinary citizen think.pls on the whole UNSC perm seat,if at all an african nation gets its and it goes to SA,dn dts foul play.let's not be biased SA is of little activity on world issues,Nigeria is actively involved and always supporting the right cause or betterstill be neutral.ask any UN analyst,you'll see d light.

WHO IS THIS PESSIMIST? You will be surprised. Nigeria's economy is soon going to be a Super Power globally. Just a matter of time.

sheyie2007: If they come to NL, they'll change their minds

lol @andrewza,msauza,thiza,DICTATORZA should have been here too

Probably it's also time Nigerians & South Africans on Nairaland follow the lead of their presidents and strengthen ties.OK not in this life time.