The South African President, Jacob Zuma, is scheduled to pay a one-day official visit to Nigeria on Tuesday in an effort to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

This was confirmed at the weekend by Sonni Yusuf, the Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa.

Trouble between the two nations started when an over-zealous South African customs official returned a plane full of Nigerians for having an incorrect yellow fever inoculation.

This caused what has become known as one of last year’s most serious diplomatic incidents.

The incident of returning Nigerians to their country made the government of Nigeria very angry, prompting customs officials to start declining visas to South Africans. The situation was only resolved after a humble regret from South Africa.

In the lead up to the appointment of a new leader for the African Union (AU), Nigeria supported Jean Ping, the former head of the organisation. But the South African contender, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma won the elections, much to the chagrin of the Nigerian state.
Again, it is also understood that the superficial attention of the rivalry between the two countries is about the size of the two economies.
Nigeria is due to rebase its gross domestic product (GDP) figures next year. This could boost Nigeria’s GDP massively making it to be closer to South Africa’s.

According to BDLive, if Nigeria’s growth rate remains at nearly 7 percent which is twice that of South Africa’s, the title of Africa’s heavyweight economy will go to Nigeria within a few years.

This could be a great embarrassment to South Africa which has enjoyed the status of being Africa’s economic powerhouse for many years.

Early last year, Kgalema Motlanthe, South Africa’s deputy president admitted that the relationship between the two countries had been going through a difficult time recently.

He said the two countries had to have a heart-to-heart discussion influenced by the spirit of common friendship as Africans with a mutual future.

The Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa at the weekend said all the prerequisite visas have been allotted to all the members of Zuma’s entourage.

Zuma will meet Jonathan in Abuja and then entertain him next month during Jonathan’s full-blown state visit to South Africa, South Africa’s Department of International Relations said.

The two leaders will discuss and consult on regional and continental issues during the visit.

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