The Nigerian federal Government prepares to construct the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, said the Chief Operating Officer of the gas and power of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engineer Yusuf Usman. During an exclusive interview with Nigerian NewsDirect newspaper, Usman recalled that this large-scale project took on concrete form with the signing of an agreement between Nigeria and Morocco during a ceremony chaired by HM King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

He added that the gas pipeline will take the West African pipeline route and benefits several African countries. According to him, this gas pipeline “will pick up a lot of African countries. Some of these African countries have gas they will inject into the pipelines while some don’t have but can take the gas for development, if they cannot pay for the gas, they can get electricity.” “It is this kind of vision that is required to lift Africa from the picture that you saw which is currently in the dark into light. It is a wonderful initiative to do,” he pointed out.

When asked about the time frame of this gas pipeline project, he explained that they “have finished visibility study. We are just launching the Final Investment Decision for the project.” Usman also expressed Nigeria’s readiness to complete the Decade of Gas Master Plan into a viable project.

Launched in 2016 in Abuja under the chairmanship of HM King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, this large-scale project will link Nigeria’s gas resources, those of several West African countries and Morocco and will thus promote regional economic integration.