Morocco, Nigeria expand cooperation to renewables

After concrete phosphates and gas cooperation projects, Morocco is helping Nigeria develop electricity production from renewable energy with a solar power project spanning over 200,000 hectares of land in the state of Jigawa.

“The power solar energy is an initiative of Moroccan government, in collaboration with the Federal Government and Jigawa State government specifically to improve power supply in the country, especially in states like Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina and Yobe states,” said Jigawa State Commissioner for Land, Housing, Urban and Regional Planning, Sagir Musa Ahmed.

The project is expected to assist in advancement of power generation in the aforementioned states and the country in general.

Bilateral relations have seen a positive impetus in all areas, especially following the royal visit to Nigeria in December 2016 and that of President Buhari to Morocco in June 2018.

The two countries have agreed to build a gas pipeline that will not only offer an outlet for Nigerian gas and boost Morocco’s gas supply but will also be conducive to economic development in the sub-region and act as an incentive for the integration of the Western African energy market.

With the largest population in Africa, Nigeria is struggling to achieve its food security, an area in which Morocco proved to be a very useful partner through supplying the country with customized fertilizers at an affordable price to help unlock the full potential of the country’s agriculture.

In this respect, Morocco’s phosphates and fertilizers producer OCP will in the short-term build a fertilizer plant worth $1.3 billion in the country along with three blending units.