South African leader in Nigeria to mend ties

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG

South African President Jacob Zuma has begun a two day-state visit to Nigeria, which experts believe is aimed at ending a long-running cold war between the continent’s two economic power houses.

“I believe President Zuma is in Nigeria to cement ties and also discuss the huge fine imposed on South African telecommunications company MTN,” Professor Andre Duvenhage of South Africa’s Northwest University told Anadolu Agency in an interview Tuesday.

Last year, Nigerian authorities fined South Africa's MTN Nigeria operation $3.9 billion for failing to deactivate 5.1 million unregistered subscribers from its network.

MTN, which operates in 22 African countries, Asia and the Middle East, has since been trying to negotiate for a settlement.

Duvenhage also said South Africa was not happy with how the Nigerian authorities delayed the repatriation of the remains of South African citizens who died after a hostel collapse in Lagos killed over 80 South Africans in 2015.

Other experts say Nigeria is upset with South Africa because, despite opening its markets to South African companies, Nigerian firms find difficulty trading in South Africa due to stringent business rules.