President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said South Africa and Nigeria should leverage on the strong brotherly relations between the two nations, for the benefit of the African continent.
President Jonathan was speaking to the outgoing South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo, during a farewell audience at State House, Wednesday.
‘We worked together successfully to eradicate apartheid and we should continue to build on our past relationship for the benefit of Africa’, he stated.
The President agreed with Mr. Mamabolo that the Nigeria – South Africa Bi-National Commission had provided a very good platform to further strengthen relations for the mutual benefit of the two nations and Africa.
He congratulated the outgoing High Commissioner on his appointment as South Africa’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and urged him to work closely with the Nigerian Permanent Representative in New York for the benefit of both countries and Africa.
Earlier, Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo commended President Jonathan for creating a conducive environment for foreign missions to operate successfully in Nigeria.
‘We have been inspired by your commitment to strengthen relations with South Africa through the Bi-National Commission, and the conducive environment you created for us to operate in’, he said.
Mr. Mamabolo thanked President Jonathan for the cooperation he enjoyed during his tenure in Nigeria.