Nigeria has announced plans to revive and strengthen its joint commissions with several Southern African countries as part of efforts to deepen diplomatic, economic, and development ties.
Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador, disclosed this in Abuja, during the commemoration of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Day.
The 2025 celebration was held under the theme “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC.”
SADC is a regional bloc comprising 16 member states, with eight currently represented in Nigeria: Angola, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Speaking on behalf of the minister, Nonyelum Aforkelu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria was at different stages of reviving its bilateral and joint permanent commissions with member countries.
“To further deepen existing relations, we are at various stages in resuscitating our joint commission with some SADC member states.
“The joint commission has remained a veritable instrument in managing, promoting and strengthening relations. We have decided on our bilateral commission with South Africa and joint permanent commission with Namibia”, Tuggar said.
He revealed that Nigeria’s joint commission with Angola would take off in the coming days, while engagements with Zimbabwe and Botswana were expected either before the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2026.
Highlighting the importance of these partnerships, Tuggar stressed that Nigeria’s cooperation with SADC countries had already yielded tangible benefits in job creation, infrastructure development, and shared opportunities.
“As we deepen and strengthen our subsistence bond, today we celebrate friendship that works, partnership that thrives, and fraternal bonds that grow stronger.
Across Nigeria and indeed SADC countries, you can see evidence of this relationship in our various strengths,” he noted.
