The Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fertiliser Initiative, Muhammed Abubakar on Tuesday disclosed plans by the Federal Government to commence gas export to Morocco.
Abubakar, who is the Governor of Jigawa State said the plan will include signing an agreement with other nations who may need the natural resource along the Sub-Sahara region to the final destination country.
He made this known when President of Fertiliser Producer and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), Thomas Etuh paid him a courtesy visit, during the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative tour in Dutse.
Abubakar said: “The Sahara gas pipeline is a project we are planning to transport gas from here down to Morocco, then passing through so many countries and opening up use of gas in those countries across sub-Sahara.”
Asked if the new project will affect the initial agreement on the supply of phosphate from Morocco, the chairman explained that the supply of the raw material for fertiliser blending was a different agreement solely on agriculture.
“The supply of phosphate for fertiliser blending is a different agreement and the trans-Sahara pipeline is another project,” he added.
The governor added that about 4000 tonnes of fertiliser have been procured for distribution in the state.
While he stressed the importance of legislation for agricultural projects, the governor said it was unnecessary to push for any law.
“It is always good if there is the need for legislation. But this is purely a business venture. I don’t believe it requires a legislation. We will do whatever agreement expected of us according to the Nigerian law and the government of Morocco will do theirs. The countries that our pipelines will pass across, we will also use our gas and agree with us according to their rule.
“I don’t believe there is any special legislation for us to sell our product,” the governor added.
Earlier, FEPSAN President lauded efforts of the chairman to ensure the programme was successful.
He condemned actions of Notore, Indorama and selected Lebanese organisations, who he accused of frustrating the programme.
Etuh said it was inappropriate for the fertiliser firms to downgrade the locally processed fertilisers because of their selfish interest.
He said government’s intervention was to reduce the cost of fertilisers to encourage farming and increase productivity.
“Today, farmers are getting fertiliser at N5,500. The war has not stopped. You will hear complaints that the quality of fertiliser is not good. They wanted it bad for their own interest. Meanwhile, farmers are not complaining,” Etuh added.
The committee is expected to produce about one million Metric tonnes of fertiliser for the 2017 wet season and it will be distributed to farmers at the rate of N5,500.
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