The five national oil companies and relevant entities are from Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the event, Kyari commended NNPC’s partners, ONHYM, who have diligently worked with NNPC Limited through the years to bring the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project to limelight.
Kyari said it was comforting to witness steady growth of the project, especially with inclusion of NNPC’s counterparts and key institutions from other African countries, through execution of the relevant Memoranda of Understanding.
He recalled that on September 15, 2022, NNPC Limited and ONHYM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ECOWAS Commission in Morocco, adding that this event came a month after NNPC signed additional MoUs with Petrosen of Senegal and SMH of Mauritania.
He said: “Today, we will be attaining another feat by signing five MoUs with the national oil companies and relevant entities from Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone.
“From inception of the project to this stage, concerted efforts have been made by the governments of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco, which led to the very commendable achievements recorded thus far.
“As the strategic vision of our great leaders gains momentum, I would like to express our appreciation to King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria for entrusting NNPC Limited with this strategic project.”
The NNPC boss stated further that the African continent stands to benefit immensely from execution of the project, which extends beyond the supply of gas to energise countries along the route.
The signing ceremony, held in Morocco was attended by Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari; Dr. Amina Benkhadra, General Director of Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines; Mr. Baboucarr Njie, Managing Director of the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Gambia and Celedonio Placido Viera, General Director of Petroguin, Guinea Bissau.
Also in attendance are Mr. Amadou Doumbouya, Director General of the National Company of Oil (SONAP), Guinea; Mr. Foday B.L. Mansaray II, Director-General of Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL) and Dr. Ben K.D. Asante, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company.