Over 70% of S/Africa oil comes from Nigeria
Bobby Moroe
* Both countries could lead the continent’s push for industrialization.
South Africa imports more than 70 per cent of its oil from Nigeria, Acting High Commissioner and Consul General of the Republic of South Africa, Bobby Moroe, has said.
Speaking at the Outward Selling Mission Programme in Lagos, Moroe said Nigeria leverages South Africa’s strategic geographic location as a hub to distribute oil and other products across the Southern African region, including Botswana, Mozambique, and Lesotho.
“This initiative is about more than trade—it is about building on our shared history and creating opportunities that benefit both nations,” Moroe said.
The programme, hosted annually by South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, returned this year after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Moroe, the event aims to revitalize economic ties, resuscitate existing markets, and explore new areas of collaboration.
A diverse delegation of South African businesses participated, spanning engineering, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, mining, agriculture, and agro-processing. Moroe emphasized that beyond oil, there are wide-ranging opportunities for cooperation, including road rehabilitation, housing construction, and technology exchange.
He stressed that Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa’s largest economies, must lead the continent’s push for industrialization and strengthen trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. “Together, we can position Africa as a global powerhouse,” he said, noting that current trade volumes remain in Nigeria’s favor.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC), Iyke Ejimofor, said the forum gives Nigerian entrepreneurs direct access to South African business leaders, fostering partnerships, technology transfer, and sectoral growth. He highlighted opportunities in agriculture, mining, and engineering—sectors where South Africa’s expertise could support Nigeria’s development.
Similarly, Chairperson of the South Africa-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Ije Jidenma, underscored the importance of collaboration between the two countries.
“We all share a collective responsibility to make Africa great. What greater step can we take than for Nigeria and South Africa to work closely together? Collaboration is not just important—it is essential,” Jidenma said.
She commended the South African Consul General for his vision, describing it as a commitment not just to trade but to humanity, compassion, and Africa’s shared future.
Both countries, she said, are bound by unbreakable historical ties, having played pivotal roles in Africa’s liberation and integration. “Trust and truth must remain at the core of our engagements if we are to build a lasting partnership,” she added.
As Lagos hosted the renewed mission, participants agreed that partnership must extend beyond boardrooms to embrace culture as well. With Afrobeats and Amapiano as cultural exports, both nations see music and arts as natural bridges to strengthen ties.
“This is more than business—it is about shaping Africa’s future,” Moroe said.
