… seeks flexible visa policy for Nigerians
The Nigerian Senate has given the assurance that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to the full execution of the $25 billion gas pipeline project between Nigeria and Morocco.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, gave the assurance at the executive session of the African Parliament ongoing in Casablanca, Morocco.
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According to him, executing the gas project fall in line with the Tinubu administration’s resolve to complete abandoned projects in Nigeria as Ibrahim informed his audience that a review of such projects was in progress.
Ibrahim, who represents Ondo-South Senatorial District, noted that the gas project was set to have a capacity of 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year and a length of 5,660 kilometres..
Ibrahim, who also delivered the good wishes of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to the audience, stated that the pipeline would traverse 13 African countries. Among them are Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco, all to be served from Nigeria.
He added that the project was planned to take thousands of youths out of the labour market, boost industrial and digital development, as well as contribute to a more sustainable energy future for the affected member nations.
Ibrahim called for the Atlantic to be opened to create more opportunities, while noting that the project would be a breakthrough for both nations, as Morocco would benefit from supplying Europe.
The lawmaker further urged Morocco to revise its visa policy, allowing Nigerian visitors to enter without visa restrictions, given the level of opportunity that the new investment will generate for both countries.
Senator Ibrahim stated that the project was currently in the feasibility study and route planning phase, with discussions ongoing between relevant authorities and stakeholders, adding that the final investment decision was initially planned for 2023, but postponed to 2025.
The legislator also informed the session that the Nigerian Senate was already working on significant legislative measures to help the Tinubu administration to fast-track the execution of the gas infrastructure.
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