Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Sign Historic Gulf of Guinea Gas Pipeline Deal
Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea have officially entered into a landmark agreement to develop the Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project, further solidifying their partnership in the energy sector. The agreement was signed on Wednesday by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and President Teodoro Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea during Tinubu’s three-day official visit to Malabo.
The agreement, as detailed in a statement released by Presidential Spokesman Ajuri Ngelale on Thursday, encompasses several key aspects: legislative and regulatory frameworks, the establishment and operation of the pipeline, transit rights for natural gas, and ownership principles. The statement was titled, “President Tinubu and President Mbasogo Sign Agreement on Gas Pipeline for the Gulf of Guinea.”
During the signing ceremony, President Tinubu highlighted the significance of the agreement, noting that it will create new opportunities for gas exploration and job creation. He also mentioned that the bilateral talks between the two leaders covered a range of issues including employment generation, food security, multilateral relations, and conflict resolution strategies within Africa.
“Regarding the continent, we discussed various conflicts and explored solutions to promote peace and stability. We must address our challenges internally, much like Europe and America have done, by investing in capital, industrialization, research, and development,” Tinubu stated.
Tinubu also emphasized the need for Africa to tackle its own problems, citing the ongoing conflicts in the Republic of Congo as an example. He underscored the importance of African nations working together to find solutions from within the continent.
President Mbasogo echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the long-standing and fruitful bilateral relations between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. He stressed the importance of deepening cooperation in key areas and reiterated Africa’s ambition to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a goal Equatorial Guinea is committed to pursuing in partnership with Nigeria.
The signing ceremony was attended by several key officials from both countries, including Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Mr. Simeon Esono. Also present were Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Minister of Defence, Muhammad Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of State for Petroleum, Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, and Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Ibrahim-Bio.
The agreement is seen as a strategic move for Africa’s development and a critical step toward strengthening regional cooperation in the energy sector.
