The South African government has announced a relaxation of visa requirements for Nigerian businesspeople and tourists, allowing applications without submitting a physical passport.

President Cyril Ramaphosa disclosed this development on Tuesday during the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in attendance at the event.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Information and Strategy, Ramaphosa noted that the streamlined visa process includes the issuance of five-year multiple-entry visas for qualifying Nigerian businesspeople.

“Our simplified visa process aims to create a favourable environment for Nigerian businesspeople to travel to South Africa,” said Ramaphosa.

He pledged South Africa’s commitment to eliminating barriers to investment and addressing challenges faced by businesses in both countries.

“As we mark 30 years of diplomatic relations, we envision a brighter future for our partnership. These strong bonds of friendship provide a solid foundation for deeper economic cooperation,” he said.

The South African leader highlighted the contributions of Nigerian companies to South Africa’s economy while reaffirming his country’s openness to Nigerian businesses.

“There is still much to be done. We need to remove lingering constraints to investment and address the challenges faced by companies operating in both countries,” he added.

Ramaphosa also commended Nigeria’s ongoing reforms aimed at fostering a business-friendly environment and providing assurances to investors, including those from South Africa.

“Our government remains committed to improving the ease of doing business in South Africa. We aim to enable investors to explore opportunities across various sectors. We look forward to increased investment from Nigerian companies,” he said.

The president further stated that Africa’s development and challenges facing the Global South would remain priorities on the G20 agenda.

These reforms come as both countries seek to strengthen economic ties and create opportunities for mutual growth in key sectors.