MESSAGE OF GOOD WILL AND REVIEW OF MAJOR ACTIVITIES OF THE MISSION IN 2021 

Fellow compatriots under our Misions consular area, 

Alhamdulillah, to God be the glory, for His mercy and for making us witness 2022. According to the major religions, the cycles of days/nights, and seasons/years, are signs of God's Love and His grand design for continued renewal and rejuvenation of mankind. May 2022 bring us peace, joy, good health and prosperity, Amen. 

PASSPORT OPERATIONS 

2. The activities of the Mission continued to be restricted by the challenges posed by Covid-19. Nevertheless, the Mission has continued to render consular services to Nigerians and other foreign clients in need of same. It will be recalled that data capturing for applicants have been restricted to between 50 - 100 per day, depending on the lock down level we were. It is hoped that the falling level of infections in South Africa which heralded the lifting of restrictions on mass gatherings, will enable the mission to attend to more clients in the new year. In line with current guidelines from HQ, visitors to the office might be required to provide evidence of Covid-19 vaccination. It is recalled that about 8 members of out staff were infected during the outgoing year. There is therefore need to not only protect other visiting clients, but the staff of the Mission as well. 

3. It is important to state that the mission produced about 11,600 passports from January - December 2021. In all, we have an outstanding backlog, awaiting production of about 5,671 passports. It is hoped that this backlog will be cleared before March 2022. The new Comptroller General of NIS, Isah Idris made promises in this regard on the 1st January 2022. 

VISA ISSUANCE 

4. In the same vein, a total of 458 visas of varying categories were issued to deserving visitors to Nigeria between January and December 2021. This rather low traffic is attributable to the impact of Covid-19 on global travel in general, Nigeria and South Africa's traffic not an exception. 

COMPLAINTS OF EXTORTION AT THE PASSPORT SECTION 

5. In response to recent complaints of extorsion at the immigration section, a committee was set up to investigate the matter and recommend appropriate measures. The preliminary report indicates that certain staff and agents appointed to assist indigent clients have all conspired to compromise the process, taking advantage of the shortage of booklets and offering passports to the highest bidders, especially during my brief absence from the Mission in November and December. In reaction, the activities of the agents have been suspended while about 4 members of staff  identified to have committed misdemeanours, have been queried accordingly. The erring staff will be sanctioned according to laid down disciplinary procedures, to serve as a deterrence. The leadership of the Mission has zero tolerance to extortion and indiscipline. Complaints of fraud and extortion should be reported directly to the office of the Consul General. 

6. Nigerians are therefore advised to deal directly with the Mission and the OIS with respect to passport applications. They are also advised to exercise patience and avoid enticing staff of the mission with gratification. 

7. On this score, we wish to advise that prospective applicants have a window of 6 months to commence the processing of the renewal of their passports before the date of expiration. This will limit or avoid the delays experienced due to the shortage of booklets. 

INTER-AFRICA TRADE FAIR DURBAN 

8. Nigeria participated actively at the 2nd edition of the IATF held in Durban from 15th - 21st November 2021. Nigeria's delegation was led by President Muhammadu Buhari. About 61 Nigerian companies-maintained stands. With the theme "Building Bridges for a successful AfCFTA", the fair sought to accelerate African economic integration by maximizing opportunities for AfCFTA, to create a single market for 1.3 billion people in a continent with combined GDP of US$3.4 billion. 

9. Highlights of the fair included Nigeria's special day which attracted investors exclusively to the Nigerian Pavillion. Also, Nigeria signed a loan facility of US$1.04 billion with Africa EXIM bank in favour of the NNPC for oil exploration purposes. Also, Silverbird group signed a US$50 million deal with South African AAA entertainment group to develop and produce cinematic African feature films. 

10. With over 5000 participants, US$40 billion trade and investment deals, 55 countries and 100 exhibitors, IATF 2021 provided a veritable platform and useful opportunity for Africa's largest economy, Nigeria. It was therefore not surprising that President Buhari led the Nigerian participation at the fair. It was also an opportunity to showcase Nigeria as the ultimate investment destination. No one was better placed to lead that Mission than Mr President himself. The outcome of that Mission which has indeed begun to yield dividends as highlighted above. 

10th SESSION OF THE BINATIONAL COMMISSION HELD AT THE TRANSCORP HILTON FROM 26th NOVEMBER - 1st DECEMBER 2021 

11. President Cyril Ramaphosa undertook a State Visit to Abuja from 30th November - 1st December 2021 at the invitation of President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of the 10th session of the Binational Commission. The two leaders reviewed a wide range of bilateral, regional, continental and global issues of mutual interest. They acknowledged the historical and strategic relations that exist between the two countries and the desire to further strengthen and enhance ties of friendship and cooperation for the mutual benefits of their people. 

12. Two new MOUs and two implementation protocols were signed on 1/12/2021 at the end of the state visit. They committed themselves to ensuring that those signed, which are already in force, are fully implemented while those which are not yet in force are to be revived for implemetation. The signed MOUs include: 

a) MOU on Youth development 
b) MOU on Audio-visual co-production 

The MOU on the EWM is being finalized. The early warning mechanism provides a platform for designated officials and agencies on both sides to collaborate and share information with a view to preventing incidents of violent crimes against Nigerians in SA and reprisal attacks against SA entities in Nigeria. Several other MOUs and Agreements are in the final stages of finalization.

13. The inaugural meeting of the Nigeria - South Africa consular & migration was held on 26th November 2021 during the BNC session. This forum provided an opportunity to review the current status of consular relations and accompanying challenges. A follow up meeting of the JIC is scheduled to hold in Pretoria from 20th - 24th January 2022, barring any hitches. 

14. The 10th session of the BNC also witnessed the launch of the Nigeria - South Africa youth dialogue. Spearheaded by President Ramaphosa and with full support of President Buhari, it aims to implement policies and programs that enhance mutual understanding and cohesion among the youths of both countries. In this regard, programmes will be rolled out in due course to give effect to the objectives of the dialogue. 

15. Finally, this briefing will be incomplete without remark on the unprecedented levels of Nigerian gang and cult related violence in South Africa in recent times. It is sad to note that in the last two months, not less than 26 members of the Nigerian community have been murdered in what has been described as rival cult violence. The latest incident occured yesterday at Kempton Park, where a Nigerian was gunned down in broad day light by four suspected Nigerian cult/gang members. Luckily, the police gallanty rose up to the occasion and gave the attackers a hot chase which led to the arrest of two suspects while the third was shot. 

16. The state of affairs is condemnable and intolerable. No government nor its department/agents support the activities of cultists and gangsters. While we urge the warring groups to stop the bloodshed, we urge SAPS authorities not to turn a blind eye to these incidents and ensure that all criminals are brought to justice. 

17. On this note, we urge all Nigerians to remain law abiding and to assit the law enforcement agents in fishing out and apprehending the criminal elements among the community. We urge you all to stay away from crime and criminality in all forms and eschew violence as a means of settling scores. 

18. Once again, the mission rededicates itself to the service of all Nigerians under its consular sphere of influence. We therefore urge you to avail yourselves of the various channels of communication with the mission on general enquiries, trade and investment, visas and passports etc. We wish you good health and prosperity in 2022 and beyond. 

Ameen.