Nigeria
UNSPLASH

"Morocco undertakes its largest foreign investments in Nigeria," Moroccan ambassador to Nigeria, Moha Ou Ali Tagma, recently stated in an interview.

Tagma said that Nigeria is a "key strategic partner for Morocco" adding that both countries are committed to the success of the vital Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.

Tagma's comments come at a time when both countries are working together on mutually beneficial projects and exploring new areas for cooperation.

"Given the special interest we have in the partnership with the western states of the continent, this project represents for us more than a bilateral project between two brotherly countries. We hope that it would be a more broadly strategic project beneficial to the entire West African region, which population exceeds 440 million inhabitants," Tagma told Daily Trust.

He further added that King Mohammed VI affirmed that the gas pipeline project is a key part of their economic development strategy.

The 6,000 km Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, for which no timetable has been set, will cross 13 African countries along the Atlantic coast and supply the landlocked states of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

The project is being carried out in a geopolitical context marked by strong international demand for gas and oil and a surge in prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Several countries, particularly in Europe, are seeking to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

Additionally, the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline agreement is not the only important deal that the two countries have recently concluded - they have also agreed on a fertilizers deal that will support President Buhari's policy to develop Nigerian agriculture. This will diversify the country's economy and ensure that Nigerians have enough food to eat.

When asked about the bilateral agreements that Morocco has signed with Nigeria and how Nigerians will benefit from them, Tagma said, "During the visit of King Mohammed VI to Nigeria in December 2016 and the visit of President Buhari to Morocco in June 2018, the two countries signed several agreements aimed at strengthening their relations and cooperation, especially in the economic field."