Niger President, Mohammed Bazoum, confirmed yesterday that the from Nigeria to Algeria was part of the discussions he held with President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday.
The Trans-Saharan gas pipeline (also known as NIGAL pipeline and Trans-African gas pipeline) is a planned natural gas pipeline from Nigeria to Algeria, through Niger Republic. It is seen as an opportunity to diversify the European Union’s gas supplies.
Recent prospects thrown up by the crises in Ukraine and the dare need for gas in Europe, may have elicited current interests in the project across the West African sub region.
“We also spoke about the gas pipeline in the sense that gas and oil now have become an issue in world politics, in the world economy,” the Niger president said.
He also lauded Nigeria for leading the way in funding activities of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, currently maintaining security in the Lake Chad basin.
“My visit coincides with the very big operation that is taking place jointly today in the Lake Chad Basin region against the terrorists and this big operation is being conducted by MNJTF – the Multinational Joint Task Force.
“And as you will know very well the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force is funded almost entirely by Nigeria. And this operation is meant to help in providing security challenges that both of our countries are facing,” President, Mohammed Bazoum said.
Two days ago, lawmakers in the House of Assembly adopted a motion by Hon Ahmed Munir, calling for a probe of the delays withholding the $12billion pipeline project from completion.
In the main however, the Niger president said he was in Nigeria to express appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the $1.96billion Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project. The Nigerien leader had held a closed door bilateral meeting with President Buhari, in the Presidential Villa.
It would be recalled that President Buhari had in February 2021 performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kano–Dutse–Jibia (Katsina State}–Maradi 284km rail project connecting Kano in Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic, virtually.
The project, being executed by Mota-Engil Group, a multinational engineering and construction company, is designed to be crucial to rail development and movement of goods and service in Nigeria and in the West African sub-region.
On his discussions with Buhari, Bazoum said, “On economic issues, we discussed the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project and this project is an infrastructure that will integrate the economies of Nigeria and Niger.
And so I’m here to thank President Buhari, for his efforts at ensuring that this project has taken off and I hope that it will be sustained because this project will radically change the trading exchange between the two countries.
The Nigerien leader expressed optimism that Nigeria and Niger Republic would continue to promote ties in the areas of security and economic development.
By Chidi Ekpewerechi
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