Buhari 's state visit, which will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Bi-National Commission, begins on Thursday. He will be hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The visit comes just weeks after attacks in South Africa on foreign nationals, some of them Nigerian. 

However, tensions between Nigeria and South Africa cooled after Ramaphosa sent an envoy to that country to apologise for the attacks that culminated in the looting and burning of foreign-owned shops.

Nigeria said its police had made arrests in their country after some citizens retaliated by attacking companies thought to be owned by South Africans.

Buhari is expected to address the Nigerian community in South Africa.

ANA