The Chairman of Nigeria's National Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki, has asked the visiting South African President, Jacob Zuma, to consider easing travel restrictions for Nigerians and reducing challenges of doing business in his nation.

Senator Saraki pointed out that there was disparity in the opportunities investors from both countries enjoy, stressing that Nigerian wanted greater reciprocity.

The Nigerian Senate President also emphasised the need for greater African integration through the easing of trade restrictions, travel restrictions and better policy action towards intra-Africa investment and support.

The Senate President also emphasised that agreements between the two countries that were still inactive should be activated. "This will be in the mutual interest for greater integration opportunity and engagement.

"We must find ways of enabling positively inter-African investments through policy intervention. This is a critical policy road that legislature could help us actualise. It starts with ensuring fairness and ease of doing business," the Chairman of the National Assembly stressed.

He also acknowledged the role that the South African government had played in Nigeria's fight against Boko Haram insurgents terrorising communities in the northeast.

The Senate President commended the South African leader for visiting, stressing that "the visit bears eloquent testimony on the critical importance you attach rightly to the role of legislature and the place for deliberation where we can, through engagement, settle difference, find agreements and enhance our mutual interest development and democracy".

'Act And Grow Together'

Zuma's visit to the National Assembly is symbolic. It is the first time that the 8th National Assembly is honouring a visiting President and the second time that a President is addressing the joint session in the last 15 years. The last was in 2000 by a former US President, Bill Clinton. "It is a demonstration of our friendship, solidarity and deep affection for the people of Africa.

"The visit speaks volume of how much your government and the people of South Africa value and cherish the bilateral relationship Nigeria has with South Africa. "It is a testament of our collective aspiration and recognition that we must come together, act together and grow together to forge a new African reawakening built on our people, democracy and the rule of law.

South Africa's experience and ours demonstrates the need for us to further entrench our people's liberties and freedoms and guide jealously our democracy," Senator Saraki stated. Mr Zuma addressed the National Assembly after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, which focused on the bilateral agreements between both nations.