By Salif Atojoko

The Democratic Front (TDF) says South Africa’s decision to relax visa requirements for Nigerians is a reflection of the country’s improved profile and global confidence in President Bola Tinubu.

Malam Danjuma Muhammad, Chairman, TDF, and Chief Wale Adedayo, Secretary, said this in a statement on Saturday.

The group said: “It is quite remarkable that the diplomatic concession on visa by the South African authorities was announced by none other than President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Nigeria – South Africa Bi-National Business Commission.

“We view this particular gesture as a tremendous display of confidence in the ongoing economic reforms in Nigeria by the South African government.

“We expect that the growing global confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s reforms as expressed by several nations, would encourage Nigerians to continue to support the President by keeping faith with the policies and guiding philosophy of his administration.”

The group said the president had exploited every global platform to inform world leaders of the country’s full transition into a free-market economy where businesses competed under the dictates of free market conditions.

“However, it is instructive to note that the South African support for President Tinubu’s economic reform efforts is not the first of its kind.

“India, China, the US, Great Britain, Brazil, France, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have all expressed similar support and confidence in the ongoing reforms through a cumulative commitment of about $30 billion in investments in the economy.

“The success of the Tinubu reform can best be appreciated within the context of positive reflections emanating from key economic performance indicators,” said TDF.

It said the indicators included GDP growth of 3.46 per cent in Q3, a decline in unemployment rate to 4.3 per cent from 5.3 per cent, a significant inflow in foreign capital remittances and an impressive surge in domestic revenue generation.

Others are: A steady decline in revenue to debt service ratio, a 33-month rise in foreign exchange reserve to $40 billion, stability in the foreign exchange rate, sanity in monetary policy implementation and better ease of doing business regime.

“All these, in our opinion, are the winning streaks of President Tinubu’s economic reforms that have motivated the much-needed global confidence and interest in Nigeria’s economy.

“We also believe that the pledge of support by South Africa for Nigeria’s membership of G20, and its readiness to invest in Nigeria’s lithium potential will further strengthen the age-long diplomatic relationship between the two countries.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani