August 15, (THEWILL) – Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea have signed an agreement on the Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project to further affirm the partnership between the two countries for mutual development.
Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and publicity, in a statement on Thursday, said the agreement was signed on Wednesday evening in Malabo between President Bola Tinubu and President Teodoro Mbasogo.
THEWILL earlier reported that President Tinubu is on a three-day State visit to Equatorial Guinea.
The agreement covered legislative and regulatory measures for the gas pipeline, establishment and operation, transit of natural gas, ownership of the gas pipeline and general principles.
In his remarks at the event, Tinubu said the signing of the agreement would open up new opportunities for gas exploration and employment.
The Nigerian leader added that the two leaders discussed issues related to the creation of employment, food security, multilateral relations and conflict resolution mechanisms on the continent.
“Concerning Africa, conflicts and conflict resolution were discussed. We discussed various areas of conflict and what we can do to promote peace. We talked about the promotion of peace and stability in our countries and growth and prosperity on our continent,” he said.
According to him, African countries have to address inadequate capital, industrialisation research and development programmes, and navigate their way through problems.
“Instead of the crisis and conflicts that we see in the Republic of Congo and others, we have to look inwards to solve problems ourselves,” he added.
President Tinubu said the discussion with his counterpart in Equatorial Guinea also covered challenges of security, the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) and food security.
“We are all going for it. Within Africa and the African Union, we have resolved that we will work together to make sure that the solution to many of our problems in Africa comes from within,” he noted.
In his remarks, Mbasogo said bilateral relations with Nigeria over many years had been rewarding and emphasised the need to deepen cooperation across salient areas.
He said Africa’s vision of having a permanent seat in the Security Council of the United Nations was vital for the development of the continent.
President Mbasogo, who affirmed that Equatorial Guinea would work with Nigeria to realise the objective, added that the signing of the agreement was strategic for Africa’s development.
Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Simeon Esono, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Equatorial Guinea, also signed the agreement.
Chief Lateef Fagbemi, Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF); Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, the Minister of Defense, and Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, witnessed the signing of the agreement.
Others were Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), and Dr. Jamila Ibrahim-Bio, the Minister of Youth Development.
