The Federal Government and the Kingdom of Morocco have signed five strategic Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) that would foster Nigerian – Morocco bilateral collaboration and promote the development of hydrocarbons, agriculture, and commerce in both countries.
The MOU signing ceremony on Tuesday at Marrakech, Morocco saw the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva led the Nigerian delegation to the agreement signing ceremony at Marrakech, Morocco, while the Chief Executive Officer of OCP Africa Mr. Anouar Jamali signed for the Kingdom of Morocco.
The agreement signed and witnessed by the OCP, NSIA and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), will see Nigeria import phosphate from the Kingdom of Morocco and use it to produce blended fertilizer for the local market and export. Nigeria will also produce Ammonia and export it to Morocco.
As part of the project, the Nigerian Government plans to establish an Ammonia plant at Akwa Ibom State. The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote and the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari were part of the delegation and they confirmed that their organizations would take equity in the Ammonia plant when the Final Investment Decision (FID) would be taken.
Also included in the delegation were the Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel; and Managing Director of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr. Uche Orji.
The Minister confirmed that the project will broaden economic opportunities for the two nations and improve the well-being of the people. He added that the project will also positively impact agriculture, stimulate the growth of gas-based industries and lead to massive job creation.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari had mandated the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and it agencies and other government agencies to give maximum support for the project. “He mandated me to ensure that at least the first phase of this project is commissioned before the expiration of his second term in office in 2023,” he added.
The MOUs that were signed were for the Support of the 2nd phase of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative; Shareholders Agreement for the creation of the Joint venture company to develop the multipurpose industrial platform and MOU for equity investment by the NNPC in the Joint Venture and support of the Gas.
