On Wednesday evening in Malabo, Presidents Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea signed a new agreement on the Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project, strengthening their mutual development partnership.
The agreement encompasses legislative and regulatory measures, pipeline establishment and operation, gas transit, ownership, and general principles.
During the event, President Tinubu, who is on a three-day official visit to Equatorial Guinea, highlighted that the agreement will create new opportunities for gas exploration and job creation. He noted that prior to the signing, he and President Mbasogo discussed employment, food security, multilateral relations, and conflict resolution in Africa.
President Tinubu emphasized the need for Africa to address conflicts internally, drawing comparisons to how Europe and America have managed their issues. He called for increased capital investment, industrialization, and research to promote peace and stability on the continent.
Additionally, discussions between the leaders covered security challenges, the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), and food security, with a commitment to finding internal solutions to Africa’s problems.
Equatorial Guinea’s President Mbasogo praised the long-standing bilateral relationship with Nigeria and stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in key areas. He also supported Africa’s push for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and affirmed Equatorial Guinea’s commitment to this goal.
The agreement was also signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and Equatorial Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Simeon Oyono Esono, with other Nigerian officials including the Ministers of Justice, Defence, Interior, Petroleum, and Youth Development present at the signing.
