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General News

France recognises Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara

By Mufutau Ojo

In a significant development in foreign relations, French President Emmanuel Macron has recognised Western Sahara within the framework of Morocco ‘s sovereignty.

 

The Moroccan news agency, MAP, reports that Macron gave this indication in a message to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Throne Day.

 

Macron, according to the message ”considers that the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”

 

Details of the message, MAP said , was made available by the Royal Office in a statement on Tuesday.

 

A dispute, dating back to 1975, pits Morocco, which considers Western Sahara its own territory, against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks an independent state there.

 

France, as the former colonial power in the region, has walked a diplomatic tightrope between Rabat and Algiers on the issue.

 

Most of France’s Western allies already back Morocco’s plan.

 

The French president reaffirmed “the unwavering position of France on this issue of national security for the Kingdom.”

 

He declared that his country “intends to act in alignment with this position both nationally and internationally.

 

” For France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue shall be resolved.

 

” Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and unwavering.”

 

Macron added that the plan “constitutes now the only basis to achieve a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

 

“ Today, an increasingly broad international consensus is emerging,” the French president also said.

 

” France fully plays its part in all relevant fora.

 

“It is time to move forward. I therefore encourage all parties to come together for a political settlement, which is within reach,” Macron said.

 

Commending Morocco’s efforts to promote the economic and social development of the Moroccan Sahara, the French president committed to ensuring that “France will support Morocco in this endeavor for the benefit of the local populations.”

 

This announcement from France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, marks an important and significant step in supporting Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. (MAP/NAN)

Foreign

Earthquake: Morocco King pledges swift succour for victims

 

By Kamal Tayo Oropo

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has pledged speedy succour to families of victims of the earthquake which recorded over 2, 946 fatalities.

The monarch made the pledge following a working meeting at the Royal Palace in Rabat earlier on Thursday,  a statement  by the Royal Office said on Friday.

The meeting, chaired by the King, was devoted to activating the emergency programme for rehousing disaster victims.

It was also devoted to caring for the categories most affected by the Al Haouz earthquake.

The Royal Office noted that the meeting followed on from the series of measures ordered by the King.

The office said the meeting was aimed at mobilising all resources, with the necessary speed and efficiency, to help stricken families and citizens.

It added that the focus  in particular was to deploy rehabilitation and reconstruction measures as quickly as possible, in the localities affected by this natural disaster of unprecedented proportions.

According to the royal office, the first version of the rehousing programme presented to the King, and which was prepared by the inter-ministerial commission set up pursuant to the High Royal Instruction, covers some 50,000 totally or partially collapsed homes in the five provinces affected.

It consists, on the one hand, of emergency temporary rehousing measures, in particular through adapted formulas for on-site accommodation in structures designed to withstand the cold and bad weather; or in reception sites equipped with all the necessary amenities.

In addition, the  state will grant emergency aid of 30,000 dirhams to the households concerned.

The office said, in this respect, the king drew the attention of the competent authorities to the extremely high priority of the rehousing operation, which must be carried out under the necessary conditions of fairness and constant attention to the needs of the populations concerned.

It said that, on the other hand, the programme consisted of immediate reconstruction actions, which would be deployed after preliminary expertise operations and land preparation and stabilisation work.

To this end, direct financial assistance of 140,000 dirhams has been earmarked for totally collapsed dwellings, and 80,000 dirhams to cover rehabilitation work on partially collapsed homes.

King Mohammed VI also insisted on the need for the reconstruction operation to be carried out on the basis of specifications and under technical and architectural supervision in harmony with the region’s heritage and respecting its unique architectural features.

The King reiterated his call for a strong, swift and proactive response, while respecting the dignity, customs and heritage of the populations.

In addition to repairing the damage caused by the earthquake, the royal office said these measures would also involve launching a well-thought-out, integrated and ambitious programme for the reconstruction and general upgrading of the affected regions.

According to the office, this will be both in terms of infrastructure reinforcement and improving the quality of public services.

“This multifaceted programme will primarily mobilise the state’s own financial resources and those of public bodies, and will also be open to contributions from private players and associations, as well as from brotherly and friendly countries that so wish.

“The king also raised the equally crucial issue of immediate care for orphaned children, who today find themselves without family or resources.

” The king has asked that these children be registered and granted the status of wards of the nation.”

Also, in order to lift them out of this situation of distress and protect them from all risks and all forms of fragility to which they may unfortunately be exposed after a natural disaster, the King ordered the government to launch the adoption process, as quickly as possible, of the bill necessary for this purpose.

“Through the vision and action of its Sovereign, Morocco is once again demonstrating the resilience that characterises it.

“Enabling it to face up to the trials and challenges with resolve, wisdom and determination, thanks to the strength of its institutions and the solidarity and generosity of its people, ” the statement read.

The working meeting was attended by the Head of Government, Mr Aziz Akhannouch, Advisor to the King, Mr Fouad Ali El Himma, and the Interior Minister, Mr AbdelouafiLaftit.

Also in attendance were the Endowments and Islamic Affairs Minister, Mr Ahmed Toufiq; the Economy and Finance Minister, Ms Nadia Fettah, and the National Territory Planning, Land Planning, Housing and City Policy Minister, Ms Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri.

Others included the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the Budget, Mr Faouzi Lekjaa, as well as Lt.-Gen. Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the Southern Zone. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina
Banking , Environment

Earthquake: AfDB boss condoles with Morocco, pledges support

By Lucy Ogalue

The President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has condoled with the people of Morocco on the recent earthquake that claimed many lives and injured thousands.

Adesina in a statement described the incident as devastating and distressing.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Morocco, on Sept. 8, experienced an earthquake that claimed more than 2,000 lives and left thousands injured.

The AfDB boss said that the incident had brought much sorrow and untold hardship to many families in Morocco.

According to him, the earthquake threw the nation into grief.

“The distressing images emerging from Al Haouz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal and Agadir, have touched the hearts of people around the world.

“I am shocked and profoundly distressed by the heavy loss of lives to this tragedy, which left in its wake, enormous destruction of homes, offices, roads, hospitals and schools.

“On behalf of the AfDB Group, I extend my deepest condolences to His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, and every affected family.

“Words can scarcely convey our shared sense of grief and loss,” he said.

Adesina pledged the bank’s commitment to standing in solidarity with the people of Morocco and providing support.

He said: “Given the remoteness of the epicentre of the earthquake, AfDB is prioritising support for the protection of health facilities.

“We are also prioritising provision of clean drinking water to prevent further hardship.

“I wish to assure His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, and the people of the Kingdom of Morocco that AfDB is ready to contribute resources.

“We are ready to contribute expertise to help rebuild infrastructure in the affected communities.

“May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

“May God Almighty comfort all bereaved families and the entire nation.”

He also prayed for speedy recovery for the injured. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

================
Edited by Mark Longyen/Ijeoma Popoola

General News

U-19 Volleyball championship: Cameroon humble Morocco 3-0

By Georgina Adegbie/Aderonke Ojo

Cameroon defeated Morocco 3-0 in the ongoing Under-19 Boys African Nations Volleyball championship on Saturday in Abuja

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the match, played at the volleyball indoor hall of the Moshood Abiola National stadium, Cameroon defeated Morocco in all the quarters of the game – 25-12 in the first set, 25-22 in the second set and 25-17 in the third set.

Cameroonian Coach, Emmanuel Wadawa, said he was happy that his boys won their second match.

“They listened to all the instructions we gave them and it worked well for us, we did not believed that we could defeat Morocco.

“We need to go back to the drawing board and do the needful against our next opponent, Gambia, on Sunday.

“I watched their games against Morocco on Friday, now they are playing the host team, Nigeria.

“They have good talented players in their team, I need to work hard on my players so that we can also win our match against them,” he said.

The Assistant coach of Morocco, Elhassane Elhassani, said the weather was too hot for his players.

“It was a wonderful game even though my players lost the game. The weather which was about 38 degree has a great effect on the players that they could not deliver well.

“We did not have enough time to prepare for this championship due to COVID-19.

“We will prepare for the last match against Nigeria on Monday which must be a win game for us,” he said.

The Under-18 Girls and Under-19 Boys African Nations Volleyball championship which started on Thursday is expected to end on March 9. (NAN)

General News

FG, OCP of Morocco sign $1.4bn agreement on gas industrialisation

By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Government has signed a 1.4 billion dollar agreement with OCP Group of Morocco to produce ammonia and diammonium phosphate in the gas industrialisation strategy.

A statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Titilope Olubiyi, Communications Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) said the agreement was signed in Benguerir, Morocco.

The agreement was between the NSIA, OCP, Akwa Ibom State Government, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Gas Aggregation Company Nigeria Limited (GACN), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN).

According to the statement, the project is structured to commercialise Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources and satisfy Morocco’s demand for cost-competitive ammonia.

The agreements are designed to create a clear path for the second phase of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) and the creation and operationalisation of a Multipurpose Industrial Platform (MPI) in Nigeria.

He added that the first phase of the MPI project would produce 1.5 million tonnes of ammonia per annum in two phases.

Olubiyi said that up to 70 per cent of the ammonia produced would be allocated for export to Morocco.

He added that the balance would be routed to the production of one million tonnes per annum of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and NPK fertilisers to feed domestic demand.

“It is expected that project construction will commence no later than quarter three, 2021.

“In the first phase of the project, 1.4 billion dollars will be invested in building out the plant and its supporting infrastructure with a target operations-commencement date of 2025.

“The project will be sited in Akwa Ibom State in a gas-rich location,’’ he added.

He said factors such as land availability and accessibility, gas adequacy, sufficiency of marine draft and other environmental and social considerations informed the decision to site the plant in Akwa Ibom.

At completion, the integrated ammonia and fertiliser plant will house the process plants, administrative buildings, fertiliser bagging units, water purification units, storage for raw materials and finished goods, onsite power plant and other ancillary facilities.

The plant will also have a dedicated jetty to facilitate seamless importation of raw materials from Morocco and other suppliers and export of excess ammonia and fertiliser to Morocco and potentially other regional markets.

Mr Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who led the Nigerian delegation assured of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the actualisation of the project.

“He has mandated the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and all its agencies, notably the NNPC, DPR, NCDMB and all other government agencies to give maximum support for this project,” he said.

Gov. Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom was quoted in the statement as saying that the state was committed to ensuring the PMI project was a resounding success.

He added that the state was receptive to investments and was prepared to offer the necessary support to make the project a reality.

“With a site that is suitably located to enable operational logistics and an abundance of gas resources, all that is left is for the parties to accelerate the project development process,” he said.

Mr Uche Orji, Managing Director of NSIA, said the project formed a key part of NSIA’s gas industrialisation strategy and would deepen intra-continental trade which was essential to Africa’s development and economic renaissance.

“This landmark project will explore increased levels of synergy between NSIA and OCP and the partners to the transactions and ultimately ensure that Nigeria builds an industrial base that is sustainable and complimentary to mutual objectives of developing the agriculture sector in Nigeria,” he noted.

Dr Mostafa Terrab, the Chairman of OCP, who welcomed the Nigerian contingent said ultimately, the agreements would strengthen the partnership between the NSIA, the group and the different institutions in the gas industry in Nigeria.

“The outcome of today’s agreements will translate to knowledge transfer and broader economic opportunities as we build out the industrial platform.

“The platform will leverage the best of Nigerian and Moroccan natural resources, namely the Nigerian gas and the Moroccan phosphate and create a new basis for stronger ties.’’ (NAN)