King Mohammed VI held today a phone conversation with president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, said a statement by the Royal Office.

During their phone call, the two head of states stressed their determination to ensure the further strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries in all fields, as well as the implementation of the actions and projects agreed upon during the royal visit to Abuja.

These initiatives cover many sectors, including agriculture, fertilizer production and security cooperation.

The two heads of states also welcomed the concrete progress made in the strategic project of the Nigeria-Morocco gazoduc pipeline, in particular through the regular meetings and exchanges undertaken by the common structures set up for this purpose.

Back in May, King Mohammed VI chaired at the Rabat Royal Palace, the signing ceremony of agreements related to the Nigeria-Morocco Gazoduc Project and the Moroccan-Nigerian cooperation in the field of fertilizers.

The ceremony, which was marked by the screening of two institutional films on the two projects’ socio-economic impact regionally and internationally, was attended mainly by the head of government, speaker of the house of representatives, the King’s advisors, government members, an important Nigerian delegation, ECOWAS representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Rabat.

Although relations between Rabat and Abuja witnessed a major improvement following the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, highlighted by the two countries’ important gas pipeline agreement, Morocco’s request to join ECOWAS almost stood as a source of friction between the two countries.

Many prominent Nigerian personalities and political groups have begun to publicly voice their opposition to ECOWAS’ tentative approval to the kingdom’s application to join. In op-eds published by local media outlets in the past few months, opponents presented Morocco’s potential admission as contrary to Nigeria’s interests.

source:MoroccoWorldNews