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| oil Barrel |
Nigeria and South Africa — Africa’s two largest and most influential economies — are once again reinforcing their economic partnership, with new revelations highlighting the depth of their interdependence. According to Bobby Moroe, Acting High Commissioner and Consul General of the Republic of South Africa, more than 70 percent of South Africa’s crude oil imports are sourced from Nigeria, a statistic that underscores Nigeria’s strategic importance to South Africa’s energy security.
Moroe made this disclosure during the Outward Selling Mission Programme held in Lagos, a major business and trade engagement platform designed to reconnect enterprises from both nations and unlock new areas of collaboration.
A Strategic Energy Partnership
Moroe explained that Nigeria does not only supply crude oil to South Africa but also benefits from South Africa’s position as a regional distribution hub. From South Africa, Nigerian oil and related products are exported onward to surrounding countries including Botswana, Mozambique, and Lesotho, expanding Nigeria’s energy footprint across southern Africa.
This interconnected supply chain has created a mutually beneficial relationship: Nigeria gains access to broader regional markets, while South Africa secures a steady and reliable energy source critical to its industrial and economic activities.
Reviving Trade After the Pandemic
The Outward Selling Mission Programme, organized by South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, returned this year after a three-year suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its revival marks a renewed push to restore business confidence, strengthen established markets, and develop new channels for commercial cooperation.
Moroe described the programme as far more than a traditional trade event. He said the initiative is about honoring shared history and building opportunities that benefit both people and economies.
Broad Sector Participation
This year’s mission attracted a diverse range of South African companies operating across multiple industries. Participants represented sectors such as engineering and infrastructure, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and heavy industry, mining and mineral processing, agriculture and agro-processing, and construction and housing development.
Beyond the oil and gas industry, Moroe emphasized opportunities for collaboration in road rehabilitation projects, affordable housing construction, digital innovation, and technology transfer — areas that are critical to Nigeria’s development priorities.
Leadership in African Trade and Industrialisation
Moroe stressed that Nigeria and South Africa must jointly lead Africa’s industrial transformation under the African Continental Free Trade Area. As the continent’s two largest economies, both countries carry a responsibility to drive intra-African trade, reduce dependency on external markets, and stimulate homegrown industrial growth.
Together, Nigeria and South Africa can position Africa as a global economic powerhouse, he said, noting that although current trade volumes favor Nigeria, the full potential of bilateral trade remains largely untapped.
Unlocking Business Opportunities
Iyke Ejimofor, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria–South Africa Chamber of Commerce, explained that the forum provides Nigerian entrepreneurs with direct access to South African investors and decision-makers. This interaction encourages sectoral expansion, technology exchange, and long-term cross-border partnerships.
Ejimofor identified agriculture, engineering, and mining as priority sectors where immediate collaboration could yield significant economic returns for both countries.
A Partnership Rooted in Shared History
The Chairperson of the South Africa–Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Ije Jidenma, described the bilateral relationship as fundamental to Africa’s future. She emphasized that both nations share not only economic interests but also a long history of cooperation in the struggle for freedom, unity, and continental development.
She said collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa is essential for Africa’s progress and that trust, transparency, and honesty must remain central to all engagements if the partnership is to deliver sustainable results.
Culture as a Bridge of Cooperation
Beyond economics and investment, the forum also celebrated the role of culture as a unifying force between the two nations. From Nigeria’s globally celebrated Afrobeats movement to South Africa’s electrifying Amapiano genre, music and creative industries continue to strengthen people-to-people connections and deepen cultural understanding.
These creative exchanges enhance diplomatic relations and create additional economic opportunities in tourism, entertainment, and digital media.
Shaping Africa’s Future Together
Moroe concluded the event by reaffirming that the partnership between Nigeria and South Africa extends beyond business transactions and into shaping the future of the continent.
As Nigeria supplies the energy that fuels South Africa’s industries and South Africa opens gateways into southern African markets, both nations stand at the forefront of Africa’s economic transformation.
With stronger trade frameworks, renewed investment confidence, and a shared commitment to continental development, Nigeria and South Africa appear poised to redefine what African cooperation can achieve in the 21st century.
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