Nigeria thanks SA for swift action
Vivian Warby
4 June 2008
Nigerian President Umari Yar'Adua has commended the South African government and its people for their swift action following the recent spate of anti-foreigner violence in parts of the country.
The Nigerian president, in the country for a three-day visit, arrived on Monday as South Africa was picking up the pieces after violence on foreign nationals rocked the country over the past few weeks.
Speaking at a media briefing following talks with President Thabo Mbeki in Cape Town on Tuesday, Yar'Adua said such a situation could arise "anywhere, at any time.
"It is important that the authorities uphold the principles that guide communities and reject this behaviour, and this is exactly what the South Africa government and the people of South Africa have done," he said.
Mbeki said he had extended an apology to Yar'Adua for the attacks against other Africans. "As a government we are very opposed to it and any form of xenophobia. We are determined to protect the security of everybody in this country," Mbeki added.
Mbeki said this week's meeting would strengthen the partnership between South Africa and Nigeria, which would in turn have a positive impact on the development of the continent.
Nigeria is South Africa's biggest economic partner on the continent, with two-way trade worth in the region of R17-billion. Nigeria has more bi-lateral agreements with South Africa than with any other country.
Mbeki said the two countries had agreed that one of their challenges was to deal with the impediments to implementing many of these agreements.
"We'd like to see more Nigerian companies in South Africa," Mbeki said. "We need to open the necessary space and attend to the blockages so we can see significant movement forward in our economic development and partnerships."
Source: BuaNews
