The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Morocco

  • Nigeria, Morocco collaborate on agric insurance

    Nigeria and Morocco have set up a steering committee to develop a sustainable crop insurance scheme for the country.

    The committee comprises representatives of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Bank of Agricultue (BOA), the Moroccan agricultural insurance company, MAMDA and MAMDA RE.

    In developing the insurance scheme, the committee is expected to use parametric products and leverage the Moroccan model for crops covering selected areas of between 5,000 and 10,000 hectares of land.

    NAIC Managing Director Mrs. Folashade Joseph made this known at the inauguration of the committee in Abuja.

    Mrs. Joseph said the committee was another step by the government to boost agriculture as an alternative revenue earner for the country.

    With the challenges posed to agriculture by climate change, Mrs. Joseph said there was a need for farmers to accept climate-smart agriculture and embrace agricultural risk management.

    She said NAIC would continue to collaborate with international partners to develop and deploy insurance products that would help in managing emerging risks.

    The NAIC chief traced the new initiative to the visit of King Mohammed VI of Morocco to Nigeria last December, during which he and President Muhammadu Buhari signed 15 bilateral agreements on trade, agriculture and oil and gas.

    As a follow-up to that, she said NAIC last month visied MAMDA RE in Morocco to further activate the terms of the agreement and to understudy the Moroccan experience in the development and deployment of Area Yield Index Insurance products.

    Mrs. Joseph said the BOA had been NAIC’s strongest partner for over 30 years and assured the bank of NAIC’s continued support in the provision of risk management services to agricultural investors and farmers financed by BOA.

    She also assured BOA of prompt payment of claims to farmers on its insurance platform as well as the development of new insurance products and services to manage the peculiar risks of the agricultural sector.

    BOA Managing Director, Alhaji Kabiru Mohammed, said though his bank and NAIC had enjoyed a good relationship over a long time, there were new developments that made it important for them to strengthen the partnership to facilitate the realisation of the objections of the Federal Government in repositioning agriculture.

    Mohammed said emerging realities in the country had made it an imperative to change the mindset of farmers from the thinking that farming was no more than a traditional occupation.

    He said there was big money in agriculture but that those engaged in it must do it properly and strategically if they want to make profit.

    The BOA MD said there was need for his bank and NAIC to partner in collective marketing and information sharing.

    He said the bank was already looking beyond government intervention and was discussing with international development partners and investors as a way of boosting agriculture in the country.

    Mohammed said the inauguration of the committee was part of the effort towards internationalising the existing collaboration among the stakeholders in the sector.

  • Morocco seeks membership of ECOWAS

    The Kingdom of Morocco, in North Africa, has applied to join the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). Its application was submitted to the Organisation at the 51st Ordinary Session of its heads of states in Monrovia, Liberia on June 4, 2017. It is under consideration by the15 member states of the Organisation, including Nigeria. No decision has been taken yet on the application, but there were media reports that the meeting had expressed ‘general support’ for Morocco’s application to join the Organisation. Now, this is no indication of approval or commitment on the part of members of the Organization to admit Morocco to Ecowas. The heads of state directed the Ecowas Commission to examine and advise them on Morocco’s application ‘in the light of the provisions of the Ecowas Revised Treaty of 1993″. The report of the Commission will be presented for consideration to the 52nd Ordinary Session of the summit meeting of the Organisation in December, 2017, in Lome, Togo. This will allow member states adequate time for multilateral consultations on Morocco’s application.

    Nigeria has officially maintained a dignified and studied silence on Morocco’s application. But there can be no doubt about its strong opposition to Morocco’s bid to join Ecowas of which, with Togo, it is a founding and leading member. The Foreign Ministry is believed to have advised the government against supporting Morocco’s application. Based on this advice, it is believed that Nigeria has made its reservations on Morocco’s bid for membership known to other member states. Given Nigeria’s political and economic influence in the regional organization it is unlikely that its views on Morocco’s application will be ignored, or treated lightly. Most of the member states of the organisation share Nigeria’s apprehensions about admitting Morocco to membership of the Organisation. It should not be too difficult to reach a consensus on rejecting Morocco’s bid for admission into Ecowas.

    Equally, two former Foreign Ministers, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, and Amb. Ignatius Olisemeka, have in separate public statements, expressed their reservations and opposition to Morocco’s bid to enter Ecowas. The Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN), with a membership of over 200 retired career ambassadors, has also expressed its strong opposition to Morocco’s bid to join Ecowas. A few weeks ago, the Lagos and Abuja branches of the Association had a meeting with the Foreign Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, at which they presented him with a joint memorandum outlining their objections to Morocco’s bid to seek membership of the organisation. The Minister assured the ARCAN deputation that its paper will be considered at the highest levels of the government, and will receive its due attention. There is broad support in the government for ARCAN’s reservations about Morocco’s bid to join Ecowas.

    Now, what are the grounds for objecting to Morocco’s admission into Ecowas? First, as its name implies, the Organization was established in 1975 to promote economic cooperation among states in the West African sub-region of Africa. Morocco is a North African state, not a West African state, as stipulated by the basic treaty establishing the Organisation which was concluded in Lome, Togo, in 1975. General Gowon and President Eyadema of Togo were the prime movers and initiators of the Organisation. When it was established, neither Morocco, nor any other African state outside the West Africa region, were invited to join the Organisation. The Abuja Treaty of 1993 also resolved that Ecowas was one of the five regional groups that should constitute the building blocks for the African Economic Community (AEC). Similar regional economic organisations have been established in the Northern, Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern regions of Africa. All these regional economic communities are in existence and functioning reasonably well.

    Morocco belongs to the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), of North Africa, with its headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, as well as the Arab League. In fact, the Abuja Treaty of 1993 is not in support of African states joining two or more regional economic communities. In effect, it is the objective of the African Union (AU) to eliminate and discourage multiple membership by its member states, as this could complicate the move towards both regional and continental integration.

    Now, it is clear that Morocco is not in the West African geographical zone as defined by both the 1975 Lome Ecowas Treaty and the 1993 Abuja Revised Treaty. It does not, therefore, meet the basic criteria for admission into EOWAS. It is, by virtue of its geographical location in North Africa, simply not eligible for membership of the regional organisation. It is not even contiguous to any West African state as defined by the AU.

    The second reason for rejecting Morocco’s application for membership is that, for Morocco to be admitted, the basic legal instruments establishing ECOWAS will have to be changed. This will be a tedious legal process that could damage the unity and cohesion of the organisation as its members will be divided over any unwarranted change in its legal instruments. This will undermine the unity of purpose in the organization. It will be a totally unnecessary diversion of the organisation from its basic objective of promoting economic cooperation among its members. Virtually all members of Ecowas already have bilateral economic relations with Morocco. This will not necessarily be enhanced by admitting Morocco into the regional organisation. The Arab Maghreb Union of which Morocco is, more appropriately, a member should offer it an adequate platform for economic cooperation with its neighbours. So should the Arab League. Its admission will dilute the membership of Ecowas and weaken the organisation to which Nigeria has been fully committed since 1975 when it was established. The central issue involved in the admission of Morocco into Ecowas is not about Nigeria’s influence in Ecowas, but the integrity of the organization

    Thirdly. Morocco’s bid for admission into Ecowas is based on unjustified political and economic considerations that are incompatible with the objectives of the organization. Morocco wants to join Ecowas to use it as a political and diplomatic platform to promote its illegal annexation of Western Sahara and to subvert the legitimate aspirations of the people of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) to their independence, despite the dubious claims of Morocco to sovereignty over the state. In 1984, when General Buhari was military head of state, he strongly supported the admission of the SADR to the OAU. This was to underscore Nigeria’s full commitment to the total decolonization of Africa. The decision to admit the SADR regrettably led Morocco to withdraw from the OAU immediately. In January, 2017, 33 years after it withdrew Morocco was readmitted as a member of the AU. Even in the Arab Maghreb Union and the Arab League, of which Morocco is a member, its membership of both organizations has been disruptive as it seeks to use both organisations to promote its political and economic ambitions in the Western Sahara. Morocco has for decades been in isolation and in open disagreement with virtually all its neighbours on the issue of independence for estern Sahara. Its current effort to join Ecowas should be seen as a part of its grand design to annex SADR for the exploitation of its huge natural resources, particularly phosphates. But the UN has declared as illegal the continued exploitation by Morocco of phosphates and other natural resources in the state. Any trade agreement with Morocco on the sale of phosphates from the SADR will be in violation of the UN ban. Its admission to membership of Ecowas will create a political and diplomatic conflict that will not be in the collective interest of the organization. It could lead to its break up.

    Traditionally, Nigeria has and should continue to have good bilateral relations with Morocco, including the promotion of economic relations. The two countries have strong cultural links that should be maintained. But for the reasons given, Nigeria should make it clear to both Morocco and member states of Ecowas that it is not in support of Morocco’s admission to membership of the organization.

    Amb. Oladapo Fafowora is currently President of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN), Lagos branch.

  • Morocco to send food to Qatar after Gulf states cut ties

    Morocco to send food to Qatar after Gulf states cut ties

    Morocco said it would send plane-loads of food to Qatar to boost supplies there after Gulf Arab states cut diplomatic and economic ties with Doha.

    Qatar, which imported 80 per cent of its food from bigger Gulf Arab neighbours before the diplomatic shutdown, has also been talking to Iran and Turkey to secure food and water.

    “This decision was made in conformity with Islamic precepts that call for solidarity and mutual aid between Muslim people, notably during this holy month of Ramadan,” the Moroccan foreign ministry statement said.

    Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain accused Qatar of supporting militants, an allegation dismissed by Doha.

    On Sunday, Morocco said it would remain neutral in the dispute, offering to mediate between the Gulf countries, which are all close allies to the North African kingdom.

    Qatar’s finance minister said on Monday the world’s richest country per capita has the resources to endure and played down the economic toll of the confrontation.

    NAN reports that Qatari Foreign Minister Abdulrahman al-Thani told a news conference in France that Qatar “still had no clue” why the nations cut ties.

    He denied that Qatar supported groups like the Muslim Brotherhood that its neighbours oppose, or had warm ties with their enemy Iran.

    So far, the measures do not seem to have caused a serious shortages of supplies in shops.

    Some people have even joked about being “blockaded” inside the world’s richest country: a Twitter page called “Doha under siege” pokes fun at the prospect of readying “escape yachts”, stocking up on caviar and trading Rolex watches for espresso.

  • Nigeria’s, Morocco’s ‘Wonder of Africa’ pacts on gas, fertiliser

    Nigeria’s, Morocco’s ‘Wonder of Africa’ pacts on gas, fertiliser

    Moroccan National Board of Hydrocarbons and Mines Director-General Mrs Amina Benkhadra (right) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Director-General Maikanti Kacalla Baru last Monday signed documents of cooperation agreement of the Nigerian-Moroccan gas pipeline project that will connect the two nations as well as some other African countries to Europe at the King Palace in Rabat. ASSOCIATE EDITOR OLUKOREDE YISHAU examines the importance of these deals

    Rabat, the heart of Morocco, was upbeat last Monday. Reason: the palace of King Mohammed VI was hosting a delegation from Nigeria, which was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama.

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe, his counterpart in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Jigawa State Governor Presidential Committee on Fertiliser Chairman Abubakar Badaru, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Director-General Maikanti Kacalla Baru and Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FESPAN) President Thomas Etuh were also at the palace to witness history: the signing of two bilateral agreements.

    One of the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed is on the Joint Initiative on the Morocco –Nigeria Gas Regional Pipeline. This deal christened “The Wonder of Africa” will have direct impact on 300 million people.

    The MoU signed by the NNPC and the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), covers a feasibility study and a Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) study on a gas pipeline from Nigeria to Morocco and ultimately Europe.

    The MoU shows that both countries have equal stakes in management and financing of the studies, which are expected to be completed in two years.

    The second agreement is on the second phase of the Fertiliser Initiative started after last December official visit of the King of Morocco to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. The first phase has seen the supply of a cargo of phosphate from Morocco to Nigeria. Through this, 11 blending plants have been resuscitated and about 1.3 million tonnes of fertiliser have been produced. 50,000 direct jobs and 150,000 indirect jobs have been created and fertiliser’s price has crashed to N5,500.

    The new fertiliser deal will see to the maximisation of local fertiliser production through the creation of platform for basic chemical products and reinforcement of distribution channels.

    Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said President Buhari and King Mohammed VI have a shared vision for a sustainable, active and solidarity-based joint development for Africa.

    Onyeama thanked King Mohammed VI for his partnership with Nigeria and his belief in President Buhari.

    The minister said: “During His Royal Majesty’s State visit to Nigeria on December 3, 2016, our two countries entered into commitment to work in mutually beneficial ways to strengthen our bilateral co-operation in various areas, including agriculture, infrastructure and gas development. Who would have imagined that eight weeks after that commitment was signed, phosphates produced here in Morocco was already being blended into fertlisers for agriculture 2000 miles away in Nigeria under the programme known as the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative. The programme has revived several moribund fertiliser blending plants in Nigeria. It has so far created thousands of direct and indirect jobs, ensure that our farmers have access to good quality fertiliser at an affordable price and all these before the planting season. The remarkable success of this programme thus far can only be attributed to the strength of the personal relationship as well as the commitment, vision and leadership shown by both your royal majesty, King Mohammed 6 and Hs Excellency President Buhari.

    “These achievements are also testaments to the commitment of our chief executives and institutions that have worked tirelessly to implement what the two heads of states have directed. Without the focus and the drive of the government of the Kingdom of Morocco, the federal and state governments of Nigeria, OCP, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)   and the Fertilisers Producers and Suppliers Associations of Nigeria, this idea could have remained just that, a good idea.”

    Onyeama went on: “This strong bilateral relationship is not limited to the fertiliser industry alone, the vision your royal majesty shared with His Excellency President Buhari to enhance our natural resources for economic growth has crystalised into extensive discussions on the decision taken in Abuja to start the proposed regional gas pipeline to connect Nigeria’s gas resources, those of other West African countries and Morocco. This initiative would also promote regional economic integration as well as accelerate electrification and industrialisation in mining, petrochemical, light manufacturing, agro-processing and fertiliser sectors.”

    Bourita traced the deals to six months ago when King Mohammed VI was on official visit to Abuja.

    “Six months ago, your majesty and your brother, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, announced the initiative of the gas pipeline, which connects Morocco to Nigeria and beyond to Europe. Today, a significant step of this initiative is reached, the signing of the cooperation agreement on the technical and financial feasibility study of this very important project,” he said.

    He added: “The Morocco/Nigeria gas pipeline project has a major historical significance that underpins the royal vision of an African continent that is master its own destiny. This project is a convergence of the vision of your majesty and President Buhari for the development of the continent, a vision founded on afro-optimism.”

    On the gas project’s feasibility, he said: “This project is feasible in many ways. First, the project arises from strong will. It is designed by Africans and for Africans aiming for a sustainable development and truthful and solidarity-based south-south co-operation as well as enhance regional co-operation.  Second, the vision has the capability, the high expertise and know how, relevant qualifications, adequate engineering and the right men and women to meet the challenge. The vision also has a number of previous success stories. Nigeria has a strong economy with the highest African GDP and enjoys the confidence of investors. Morocco, under your majesty’s leadership, has implemented world-class challenging projects. The project is also viable because it meets concrete needs relying on the potential of African gas resources on the one hand and the crucial role that energy can play to foster African development on the other hand. West Africa has a significant energy potential with 31 per cent of global reserves of natural gas resources. However, 200 million people don’t have access to electricity in West Africa, nearly two-third of the population. Only 45 per cent of energy needs are met. There are huge disparity in terms of energy among West African countries and for industries energy in West Africa is still very costly.”

    Bourita said the project would help integrate countries which the pipelines would pass through and create jobs and opportunities for their people.

    The Moroccan foreign minister said: “The viability of the project relies also on its integration effect. Gas pipeline will be an opportunity for all the countries that it will pass through, from the gas’s origin to the final destination and even for the midstream countries. ECOWAS producers as well as consumers can plug into the project to supply or be supplied. The project will have a real impact on the population of West African countries by directly benefitting 300 million people. It will enable West African countries to access a more reliable source of energy, which is considered among the cleanest and least expensive for power generation. Several sectors will derive considerable benefits from the pipeline in terms of employment as well as industrial development. The sectors concerned include agriculture, power generation, health, tourism and others. This Atlantic pipeline offers unprecedented opportunity for the region, for the transfer of technology, industrial and energy platforms that will accompany this project will enable the population of the region and more particularly the youths to benefit from its economic impact in terms of employment and investment. The Atlantic pipeline will have also stabilising effect. History has demonstrated that regional integration is synonymous with peace.

    “In the long run, the project will create an economically viable West African space connected to Europe. This project will simply change the face of West Africa. The project is also profitable. All these preliminary elements show the prospects for a profitable project, especially with its positioning as the gateway to Europe.”

    Speaking on the fertiliser pact,  Etuh emphasised the importance of food in development and enumerated the challenges faced in the first phase of the initiative and what are being done to tackle them.

    His words: “It was not an accident that you and your senior brother, President Muhammadu Buhari, decided to start this initiative with fertiliser. Why? Today we are talking about gas pipeline from Nigeria to Morocco to terminate in Europe. Can you do that project on empty stomach? No. And that is why the two brothers, His Majesty the King of Morocco and President Muhammadu Buhari, decided to start with an input so that we can feed ourselves, we can have the energy to think to do this ambitious project that we have started. In Nigeria, we have a potential one 8 million tonnes of fertiliser and we just started with a million tonnes this year and we are going to double it next year. We have a development programme to take this initiative to 6 million tonnes by 2020.

    “When we started there was a lot of logistics challenge which we never envisaged. Today it has been called the Wonder of Africa. The fertiliser is affordable and it is delivered to the farmer. How do we make it more affordable to the farmer? Today we have reached an agreement with OCP on how to solve the logistics problem. Both countries will be investing in the logistics. Storage facilities in those plants were also challenging. We have designed clusters. We are going to create inland logistics storage in the port and in the factory zone. This storage facility is not only for distributing fertiliser and for distributing the raw materials, but  it is also going to be a one-stop shop where the farmer can also bring its produce and sell.  We are guaranteeing the farmers cost plus profit.”

    Instructively, on March 14, when Etuh paid the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fertiliser Initiative a courtesy visit during the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative tour in Dutse, Abubakar said both deals were independent of each other.

    He said: “The Sahara gas pipeline is a project we are planning to transport gas from here down to Morocco, then passing through so many countries and opening up use of gas in those countries across sub-Sahara. The supply of phosphate for fertiliser blending is a different agreement and the trans-Sahara pipeline is another project. We will do whatever agreement expected of us according to the Nigerian law? and the government of Morocco will do theirs. The countries that our pipelines will pass across, we will also use our gas and agree with us according to their rule.”

    The initiatives are no doubt laudable. But, being long term deals, it is hoped that the enthusiasm, with which the drivers have started, will be sustained till the end.

  • BAKU GAMES: Cameroon coach faints during Morocco Match

    Cameroon football head coach Richard Towa was taken to a Baku hospital after fainting on Thursday during the match against Morocco in the Islamic Solidarity Games, said team doctor Tamo Moktamo.

    The Indomitable Lions coach was seen celebrating Frantz Pangop Tchidjui’s 31st-minute goal before fainting and “being taken into the stadium’s infirmary where he had to be reanimated and was then taken to the hospital in Baku”, explained Dr Moktamo.

    “He was admitted around 6:00 PM local time and was treated at the cardiology department. He’s stabilised now and is doing fairly well,” he added.

    The fainting was “most likely” due to a “hypertensive crisis” which caused an violent headache as well as brain disruptions.

    “It’s difficult to say, at this moment, what happened exactly but the coach had an MRI scan, an electrocardiogram, an X-ray of his heart after he got worse in the stadium’s infirmary, he had to be reanimated for quite a while,” said Dr Moktamo.

    Cameroon drew 1-1 against Morocco, conceding a 95th-minute equaliser.

    With two points from two games in the Islamic Solidarity Games, the Lions have to beat Saudi Arabia in their final group match to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals from Group A.

  • 2017 Okpekpe Race: Olamide hopes for better outing

    Oluwaseun Olamide, who came second in the Nigerian category at the 4th Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, says she will better her performance to win the female category prize in the competition.

    Olamide told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that her target was to be among the first eight athletes in the international category.

    “My coming to Okpekpe this year is to be among the first eight in the international category. I also have the objective of upping my performance in other events I will attend this year.

    “I was among the first 10 in the international category last year and second Nigerian; so, I intend to improve on that record this time,’’ she said.

    Olamide is a gold medalist at the 2016 Ibadan/Splash FM Integrity marathon, and also, a gold medalist in the Nigerian category, 2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

    The only International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) approved Road Race in Africa is scheduled for May 13 in Edo.

    Athletes for the event are being expected from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Bahrain, Germany, Turkey, Morocco, Burundi and host, Nigeria.

    NAN reports that technological innovations such as mobile application, line-tracking and transponders have been introduced into this year’s competition.

     

  • Nigerian emerges 2nd vice-president United World Wrestling

    Nigeria’s Austin Edeze on Tuesday emerged the 2nd Vice- President of the United World Wrestling (UWW) in El-Jadida, Morocco.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the election took place during the African Congress.

    Daniel Igali, the President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) told NAN on telephone from Morocco that he was excited by the development.

    “I am elated that Edeze the immediate past president of the NWF was re-elected to the executive committee of UWW Africa.

    “Not only that, he was elevated to the position of 2nd Vice-President.

    “It’s important to have different people at strategic positions of leadership at the continental and world levels of every sport.

    “This allows for untapped opportunities to be harnessed,’’said Igali.

    The 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medalist added that the NWF also submitted the bid document to host the 2018 Senior Africa Wrestling Championships.

    “We submitted the bid to UWW Africa president Gouad Meskout.

    “Hopefully before the end of the Africa Wrestling Championships here in Morocco, a decision will be made.

    “Algeria, Tunisia and Nigeria are bidding for the hosting rights for the 2018 Africa Wrestling Championships,’’ the Olympian added.

  • Moroccan king happy with Buhari’s health improvement

    Moroccan king happy with Buhari’s health improvement

    King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Wednesday had a telephone conversation with President Muhammad Buhari in London, where the Nigerian president is on vacation.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by President Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said the king initiated the call.

    Adesina stated that the king asked after the president’ s health and expressed satisfaction at his rate of improvement.

    According to him, the two leaders also discussed the current stage of the Morocco-Nigeria Atlantic crude oil pipeline project.

    He noted that the king thanked Buhari for Nigeria’s support in returning Morocco to the African Union and notified him of Morocco’s request to join the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS).

    “The Moroccan king also expressed intention to make the Rabat-Abuja strategic partnership a framework for regular consultation and cooperation on African issues of mutual interest to both countries.”

    He said Buhari thanked the Moroccan King for the phone call, saying he looked forward to deepening relations between both countries.

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  • AU to readmit Morocco

    African heads of state on Monday gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a two-day summit where they are expected to readmit Morocco into the African Union (AU) after a 33-year absence.

    Morocco submitted its bid to rejoin the AU last year.

    Members are also expected to elect a new chairperson to succeed South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Dlamini-Zuma is the first woman to serve as the continent’s top diplomat.

    Report said Morocco is the only country that does not to belong to the 54-member body.

    Morocco left the former Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after the body recognised the independence of Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara.

    The AU chairperson Dlamini-Zuma has been tipped as one of the possible successors to her former husband, South African President, Jacob Zuma.

    Candidates listed to succeed her are – Kenyan Foreign Minister, Amina Mohamed, her Chadian counterpart, Moussa Faki Mahamat and Senegalese diplomat, Abdoulaye Bathily.

  • Nigeria, Morocco to sign 15 bilateral agreements

    Nigeria, Morocco to sign 15 bilateral agreements

    Nigeria and Morocco are set to sign fifteen bilateral agreements.

    The King of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who is on three-day visit to Nigeria, was received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The two leaders are to witness the signing of the agreements.

    Speaking with State House correspondents, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, said the agreements would touch on trades, oil and other sectors.

    On what Nigeria stands to gain from the Morocco King’s visit, he said: “Hopefully in the short and medium terms, it could run into billions. We are looking at a trans-Africa gas pipeline that is going to run along the coast of West Africa from Nigeria to Morocco, giving us the potential to supply gas to Europe directly. We are talking billions of dollars there.

    “Morocco is a big. Therefore, establishing a production plant here to produce fertilizer and supply to West Africa sub region is also going to run into billions of dollars.

    “The potential is enormous. The visit is very important; it is a win-win visit; win for Morocco and win for Nigeria,” he stated.